The Quarter opens in Wolverhampton
New creative space ‘The Quarter’ image courtesy of Express & Star
Asylum Artist Quarter CIC, represented and affiliated with Asylum Art Gallery LTD, who oversee the programs and spaces Asylum Art Gallery and Asylum Artist Studios, are pleased to open a further venue ‘The Quarter’.
The Quarter will be a provide the city with a commercial gallery and events space for contemporary art and performance.
Comprising of a commercial art gallery, space for sales and exhibitions, a meeting place for collaborative discussions and workshops, and an events space and bar, which will be available for community hire for music, poetry and performance. It also houses two further floors with large studio spaces that are home to a collective of artists working across multiple disciplines.
This is Wolverhampton’s first independent art gallery and commercial gallery with event space for the community to meet and collaborate. Asylum Art Gallery LTD which oversee the gallery and artist studios’ have been working with the community and regional artists providing support and creative opportunities for over six years. We believe in providing physical space for artists to meet and share.
The public can join as members and enjoy the facilities across all of our affiliated spaces, the team prioritising their career progression and portfolio development.
This includes;
Use of the communal spaces for workshops and to run events.
Use of the photo studio.
To display work in the art gallery and shop with significantly reduced commission rates of 25%. (This can be discussed and potentially removed depending on your financial hardship or nature of your work.)
Use of the computer and library area.
Priority use of the gallery space when not programmed.
Priority mentoring and portfolio development support.
Regular curation of the space including the opportunity to be programmed into the gallery with a weeks solo show.
The space is overseen by a collective of creatives for local creatives to meet, collaborate and thrive. A contemporary arts hub in the centre of the city, where artist led projects take priority and contribute to the regeneration of the high street and its local community. We encourage partnerships and collectives to create together and work to bridge the gap between creatives and institutions by promoting public facing projects and artwork.
| We are Asylum promoting Discursive Spaces |
The space opened to the public on April 15th 2021, launching a public program for the year in alignment with BAS9.
One of our first initiatives was to offer paid window residencies to local artists to engage the public in during Covid restrictions.
The first artist is Rupi Dhillon from 14th April - 14th May 2021 with daily performance interventions
‘DAAJ’ - Paying homage to The Quarter’s previous use as a Bridal Store, Rupi Dhillon will transform this space from Bridal Store to Cultural Space, activated by a month-long performance entitled ‘DAAJ’.
During the month-long residency, Rupi will assemble a quilt composed of 21 Indian bridal outfits that formed part of her dowry during marriage. Despite the legal issues associated with dowry in India, laws continue to be misused.
As a British Punjabi woman, Rupi uses her practice to critique patriarchal customs inherent in both her cultures. She states:
“I own a British passport but grew up in Punjab and therefore hold an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India). When migrating to the UK my family like many others packed and carried over patriarchal customs and traditions created to oppress women. Whilst I fully support retaining cultural identity when migrating to foreign lands, I cannot support the perpetuating oppression of any woman.”
Whilst unpacking and disassembling these gowns, Rupi hopes to question and critique dowry customs that are often patriarchal, women’s work and the underpaid needle workers of South Asia, as well as using this space to take part in her own radical healing.
The opening of the new venue and the window residencies were made possible with CRF2 cultural recovery funding. ACE and DCSM.
If you wish to join please send your CV/ examples of your work to the community engagement officer with the kind of support you’d like and what you require.
Project Manager and Exhibitions programmer - Hannah.asylum.art.gallery@gmail.com
Artist mentor and curator - Corin.asylum.art.gallery@gmail.com
Community engagement officer – community.engagement.aaq@gmail.com
Research and institutional engagement officer – S.tanzini122@gmail.com
www.theasylumartgallery.com @asylum_artist_quarter