History
ArtSway, the contemporary visual arts venue in The New Forest
1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Early in the 1990's a group of local artists were using the old coach house and stables behind the Forest Heath Hotel as studios. They were interested in developing the site to include a gallery and educational activities. The founding Director, Linda Fredericks, together with a steering group of interested individuals and volunteers (and assisted by Hannah Bilton as administrator) initiated the development of ArtSway as a contemporary visual arts gallery. The initial steering group was developed into the Management Board of the ArtSway Trust and a supporting Consultation committee. With the support of the local authorities (New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council) and the regional arts development agency, Southern Arts, applications were made to the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and the recently established Capital scheme at the Arts Council of England funded by National Lottery. Following the successful bids for financial support the architect Tony Fretton (Lisson Gallery, London; Quay Arts, IOW; Camden Arts Centre, London) was employed to design the redevelopment of the site. In addition artists were commissioned for a variety of works which stand in both the grounds and the gallery.
The gallery opened in January 1997.
In 1998 the gallery was successful in an application to the Arts Council of England A4E main scheme for funding for a three year programme of work entitled "The World of Our Landscape". This has now been completed and a CD-Rom celebrating and documenting the work is available from the gallery bookshop. Some of the work is also available on this web site. The funding included the appointment of an Exhibition/ Education Officer, with Helen Waters being appointed in Spring 1998.
In the Summer of 1998 Linda Fredericks left the organisation and in the Autumn, Hannah Bilton was succeeded by Lyn French as Administrator. Following a consultation period, Mark Segal was appointed Director in February 1999.
In December 2000 the organisation was restructured to form a Company Limited by Guarantee, The ArtSway Trust Limited. The current board (updated 2006) is made up of the following individuals: Peter Jones (Chair), Mark Segal (Company Secretary), George Lewith (Treasurer), Cllr Barry Rickman (NFDC), Bruce Benson, Cllr K Heron (Hampshire CC), Yvonne Jones (User Panel), James Murray, Neil Richards, Emily Stracey (User Panel), Carey Young and Syann van Niftrik.
In June 2001 ArtSway commenced the two year NavvyGate series of residencies offering artists the opportunity to develop new work in digital practice while also sharing their creative skills with identified groups in the New Forest. The NavvyGate series is funded by the Regional Arts Lottery Programme through Southern Arts.
In September 2001 ArtSway commenced a three year programme of courses and workshops in Animation, Video and Internet projects for excluded youth in the New Forest. This is a partnership with Education Other Than At School Area 6 (Pupil referal Units in the New Forest) and is funded by the New Opportunities Fund through Hampshire County Council.
In September 2001, Ali Fowler was appointed Exhibition/ Education Officer after Helen Waters left the organisation to join the National Museum of Wales. She is now Curator at the New Art Centre, Roche Court.
ArtSway is represented in the Arts Council of England publication Pride of Place (ISBN: 1-902854-16-0) published in March 2002.
Lyn French, Administrator, left the organisation to take up a new post at Arts Marketing Hampshire in June 2002. She is now Administrator for Lux in London.
In August 2002 ArtSway received confirmation that the organisation would receive funding for a one year dedicated audience development and marketing post through Southern and South East Arts with additional financial support from Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council.
Melinda McCheyne joined the organisation as Adminstrator in August 2002.
In March 2003 Mette Houlberg, a recent graduate from the Museums MA at Leicester University joined the organisation as Audience Development and Marketing Officer.
In April 2003 the organisation was succesful in another application to RALP for the Pro[duction] residency scheme funded through Arts Council England, South East.
Following Melinda's maternity leave and a request to move to four days a week, Diane Blackbourn joins the organisation as part time book-keeper.
Additional funding for two years from January 2004 was secured for the post of Audience Development Officer through the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to support the Art, Artists, Aduiences and Intimacy Programme.
Peter Bonnell joined the organisation from the MA Curating Contemporary Art at the Royal College of Art in July 2004 after Ali Fowler left the organisation to join the Now Festival in Nottingham.
In late 2004 ArtSway received an uplift in funding from Arts Council England. This uplift effectively replaces the project funding for the residency program and offers ArtSway the opportunity to develop and plan the residency program without the need to make project funding applications.
In 2005 Nick Filbee resigned from the role of Chair of the Management Commitee. ArtSway remains very grateful for the significant contribution he has made to the founding and subsequent development of the organisation. Peter Jones was elected Chair at the Annual General Meeting. Also in 2005 Carey Young joins the Management Commitee.
Mette Houlberg leaves ArtSway to follow her partner back to Denmark. Adelina Jedrzejczak joins the organisation in the post of Audience Development and Marketing Officer. Adelina has recently completed an MA at the Courtauld Institute, London.
ArtSway presents "New Forest Pavilion" at the Venice Biennale. This signals ArtSway's first international project.
In August 2005 ArtSway completed the purchase of its freehold, with funding from Arts Council England South East, New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council. The organisation now owns the gallery and grounds which offers real security for the future.
Adelina Jedrzejczak leaves the organisation to return to the USA. Laura McClean-Ferris is appointed
ArtSway Press & Marketing Officer in July 2006. The organisation is succesful in an application for funds from Arts Council England South East to undertake an organisational review in partnership with SCAN.
The organisational review was completed by early 2007, with a report from Holly Tebbutt. This report included substantial feedback from peer organisations, artists and audiences on the approach of the organisations and their future. One of the reviews key areas for discussion included looking at how ArtSway and SCAN worked together, and if there was any potential for joining the two organisations and/or other options for development. Following a series of meetings it was agreed that SCAN would relocate.
Further recomendations included a suggested uplift in funding from all the stakeholders, including Arts Council England, Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council as it was recognised by peers, artists and audiences that ArtSway continually delivered a high quality programme well beyond its funding base. It was also suggested that ArtSay consolidate the post of Press and Marketing Officer and introduce the post of Education Co-ordinator.
Through 2007 ArtSway further developed its relationship with Higher Education, in particular agreeing a partnership with the Arts Institute at Bournemouth (now the Arts University College at Bournemouth), with Nathaniel Mellors being the first artist co-commissioned by the two organisations. This was extended to the delivery of ArtSway's second presentation at the Venice Biennale, this time as an official collateral event. Adelina Jedrzejczak joined the organisation as Press & Marketing Officer after Laura MClean-Ferris left to pursue a career as an independent writer and cuarator.
in 2008 ArtSway and the Arts University College at Bournemouth
signed a memorandum of understanding, commiting the organisations to mutually beneficial partnership working.
Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Authority both lifted their funding levels as a response to the Organisational Review. Hamphires substantial increase from £15,000 to £35,000 facilitated the recruitment of a dedicated Education Co-ordinator for the first time. Anastasia Heale joined the organisation as Education Co-ordinator in September 2008.