I find the question of venue for the display / exhibition of the MA / MFA end-of-year exhibition very interesting. . . for a number of reasons. The process of choosing I suspect, revolves around many determining factors. The idea of location not only leans toward the day-to-day practicalities of accessibility for all concerned, but whether the location is deemed to be wholly right in the first place – right politically and right in terms of appropriateness to the work itself. After this, consideration must be given as to who is to attend – who should the audience be?
It seems to me that there is reason enough to presume that the university itself presents the venue. The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport with direct links to the university and the school of Art and Design, has to be a contender. Here the show would be seen to be supporting those studying in Wales (tick), taking place in Wales (tick). The show would also take advantage of being presented in a state-of-the-art environment fulfilling part of the building’s commissioned purpose.
If not the Riverfront, then why not the UWN Caerleon campus? Yes why not? Both this and the Riverfront question need to be considered, perhaps also the Newport Museum and Art Gallery, but I suspect that any conversation would revert back to any sought audience. A balance has to be made between recognition of the university itself – and its local links and standing – together with a clear notion of the intended audience and justified reasoning.
If not Newport / Caerleon, then perhaps Cardiff? How would this be accepted? One could argue that the capitals ‘principality prestige’ would be worthy of the show and perhaps better equipped? However the political machinations of a University of Wales, Newport Show taking place in others domain (read: UWIC or Glamorgan University) where similar shows would be intended, is a detail that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Of course a range of venues are present in Cardiff: the Wales Millennium Centre, g39, The Old Library, project-ten, Chapter Arts Centre, Bute Space (I’m not sure on this last one) and more besides (those listed would perhaps be my favoured venues).
Then of course there is the south West’s capital – Bristol. Last years Simplexity Applied show took place in the CentreSpace Gallery, Bristol city centre and was a great success. Shouldn’t this be a regular location? Or if the show benefits from taking place outside Wales, what is to stop the journey from moving down the M4 corridor to London? Maybe links with other universities in the south-east could perhaps be investigated as commercial rates as well as easy set-up and access would surely be challenging. What are the arguments for and against this?
My own take on this would be that the show should take place in Wales. This is not insular or prejudiced. Rather this is born from the notion that the MA / MFA course should work with the UWN on this and not against it. The show should be set-up as a long-term commitment taking its rightful place in the Principality where scholars are set to find the breadth, diversity and quality of the work complimented by the university’s local surroundings.
The idea of a show further a-field has its attractions though, not least because the event is afterall about taking the course content to those who need to see it (to those who might otherwise not see it).
Personally speaking. . .
My own work would I feel benefit by being shown in a place of learning – ideally where my own targeted audience (adult learners seeking access courses) resided. On one level this would perhaps be ironic but on another level it would perhaps be quite fitting. However, I am also pursuing other avenues for this work to be made public. I have initiated correspondence with NIACE Dysgu Cymru and would hope to use channels presented there – including its learning networks – to communicate the works’ themes and outcomes to those whom this work aims to support. The Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Colleges Wales, the Welsh Assembly’s Department for Children Education and Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS), the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and others would also be cited where any findings were communicated, in a bid to support those across the adult learning sector for whom the production of access and learning publicity is tasked.
Discussed and preferred venue websites
- University of Wales, Newport (Art, Media & Design) – http://amd.newport.ac.uk
- The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre – www.newport.gov.uk/theriverfront/?event=showBackgroundInfo
- Newport Museum & Art Gallery – www.newport.gov.uk/artgallery
- Bute Space (Cardiff) – www.butespace.com
- G39 (Cardiff) – www.g39.org
- Project-Ten (Cardiff) – www.project-ten.co.uk
- Chapter Arts Centre (Cardiff) – www.chapter.org
- Cardiff Museum (The Old Library, Cardiff ) – www.cardiffmuseum.com
- Wales Millennium Centre (Cardiff Bay) – www.wmc.org.uk/
- CentreSpace Gallery (Bristol) – http://centrespacegallery.com/
