Arnolfini facts for kids
The Arnolfini seen from across the harbour
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | Bristol, England, UK |
| Type | Art Gallery, Performance Arts, Cinema |
| Visitors | 500,000 (2013/2014) |
Arnolfini is a cool international arts centre and gallery in Bristol, England. It's a place where you can see lots of different kinds of contemporary art (art made recently). They have art shows, live performances, music, dance, and even poetry readings.
You can also watch movies there. There's a special art bookshop and a café where you can grab a snack. Arnolfini also helps people learn about art and supports new digital art projects online. Many fun festivals happen here throughout the year!
The gallery started in 1961 thanks to Jeremy Rees. It was first in a different part of Bristol called Clifton. Later, in the 1970s, it moved to Queen Square. In 1975, it found its current home in Bush House, right by Bristol's waterfront. The name "Arnolfini" comes from a famous 15th-century painting by Jan van Eyck called The Arnolfini Portrait. The building has been updated a few times, in 1989 and 2005.
Many famous artists have shown their work here. These include Bridget Riley, Rachel Whiteread, and Richard Long. Performers like the Philip Glass Ensemble have also been on stage. In 2010, Arnolfini even hosted one of the big general election debates for the UK!
Contents
Discovering Arnolfini's History
How Arnolfini Started
Jeremy Rees, with help from his wife Annabel and painter John Orsborn, opened Arnolfini in 1961. It began above a bookshop in Clifton, Bristol. By 1968, Rees could focus on the gallery full-time. With private and Arts Council money, it moved to Queen Square. Later, it moved to E Shed, which is now the Watershed Media Centre.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1975, Arnolfini moved to its current spot: Bush House. This building is a Grade II* listed tea warehouse from the 1800s. It sits right by the Floating Harbour in Bristol city centre. The rest of the building was rented out as offices.
The Building's Design
The architect for Bush House was Richard Shackleton Pope. He built the first part of the warehouse in 1831. Then he made it bigger in 1835–1836. It was first used as a warehouse for an iron company. The building has a stone outside with cool arched entrances and windows. This style was one of the first examples of the "Bristol Byzantine" look. This style became popular in the 1850s. Later, when it became a tea warehouse, more floors were added inside.
Growing and Changing
At first, Arnolfini showed art only from artists in the West of England. But under director Barry Barker (1986–1991), it started showing more contemporary art from everywhere. Barker also helped make the gallery spaces and café bar look new. Before this update, over 285,000 people visited each year!
Modern Updates and Future Plans
From 2003 to 2005, the old warehouse got a big makeover. They even added another floor to the top. Arnolfini now uses the bottom three floors and the basement. The top floors are rented out to help pay for the gallery's running costs. One tenant is the School of Creative Arts, part of the University of the West of England. Money for these updates came from the National Lottery.
In 2015, Bush House was sold to the University of the West of England. Arnolfini still leases its space there. The money from the sale helps Arnolfini keep going.
Archives
You can find records about Arnolfini, including a collection of artist books, at Bristol Archives (Ref. 44371) (online catalogue).
Why is it Called Arnolfini?
The Arnolfini gallery is named after a famous painting. It's called The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck. This painting shows a merchant named Giovanni Arnolfini. It's one of the first paintings where the artist seems to be "present" in the picture. You can see an inscription and a reflection in a mirror in the painting.
This idea of the artist being a "witness" to what's happening around them is important to Arnolfini. The painting is kept in the National Gallery, London. It was one of the gallery founder's favorite artworks.
What You Can Do at Arnolfini Today
Arnolfini has three floors of galleries where you can see art. There's also a special art bookshop. It has a cinema that can also be used for live shows, dance, and music. A reading room offers books and information about past exhibitions. Plus, there's a café bar! It's free to enter the galleries.
Cool Exhibitions and Performances
Some famous artists who have shown their work here include Bridget Riley, Richard Long, and Rachel Whiteread. Even Paul McCartney has had work shown here!
You can also enjoy regular events like poetry and film festivals. There are live art and dance performances, talks, and jazz concerts. Groups like the Philip Glass Ensemble and Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company have performed here.
Learning and Digital Art
Arnolfini has programs for students and workshops with artists. They offer information about the art and sometimes work experience. They also have an online website called project.ARNOLFINI. It's a place where you can find digital media from past shows. You can even use these resources to create your own new projects!
Hosting Special Events
Arnolfini also hosts events for other groups. These include the Encounters Short Film Festival and Mayfest. In April 2010, it was chosen to host a big general election debate for the UK. This was a very important event where political leaders discussed their plans.
Funding and Future
Arnolfini gets money from Arts Council England and Bristol City Council. In 2013/2014, about 500,000 people visited the gallery. In 2017, a new director, Claire Doherty, was chosen. She is working to make sure Arnolfini stays strong financially. A show by artist Grayson Perry brought in more than 300 visitors a day!
Images for kids
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The Arnolfini seen from across the harbour
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John Cabot's statue outside the Arnolfini
