Camden Arts Centre facts for kids
Camden Art Centre is a cool place in London, England, where you can see awesome modern art. It's not just a gallery; it also has lots of fun activities and projects for people of all ages. They show art from new artists, famous international artists, and even historical figures who still inspire today's art.
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What Can You Do There?
Camden Art Centre is always buzzing with things to do! They have changing exhibitions that feature artists from all over the world. Sometimes, they show art by artists who are new to London. The centre also helps artists create brand new artworks.
Artist Residencies
A big part of what they do is their artist residency programme. This is where artists get support to develop their skills and create new art. They often involve the public in their projects too!
Learning and Fun Activities
There are many ways to learn and get creative at Camden Art Centre. You can attend talks and discussions, watch films, or see live art performances. They also have special activities for families and projects for young people. If you want to try making art yourself, you can join courses in things like ceramics, drawing, painting, and even art theory.
Art Outside the Centre
Sometimes, artists create new projects or performances in other parts of London, like King's Cross or the Borough of Brent. They also work with local schools and community centres. Since 2018, they've been doing even more public programmes, both at the centre and in other places. They even have a podcast called Camden Art Audio!
Shop, Café, and Garden
When you visit, you can also check out the shop, grab a bite at the Café, or relax in the Garden.
Who Runs Camden Art Centre?
The Director of Camden Art Centre since 2017 has been Martin Clark. Before this, he worked at other art places like Bergen Kunsthall in Norway and Tate St Ives.
Before Martin Clark, Jenni Lomax OBE was the Director for 27 years, from 1990 to 2017. She helped the centre become famous around the world for its amazing exhibitions.
In 2020, Martin Clark oversaw a change to the centre's name. It used to be "Camden Arts Centre" (with an 's'), but now it's "Camden Art Centre" (without the 's'). He has continued to bring important international artists to the UK for the first time. He also helps new UK and international artists get noticed, even starting a special prize for emerging artists in 2018.
History of the Building
Camden Art Centre is located in a special building that is listed as Grade II. This means it's an important historical building. It was built in 1897 as the Hampstead Central Library. Sir Henry Harben, who helped pay for it, opened the building.
The building survived World War II, even though it was hit by bombs! The library grew and was made bigger in the 1920s. However, in 1964, a new, bigger library opened nearby, and all the books moved there.
How the Art Centre Started
The art centre itself was founded in 1965 in West Hampstead. It was first called Hampstead Arts Centre. In 1967, its name changed to "Camden Arts Centre". When it first opened, it offered classes to the local community in things like painting, pottery, and drawing. The very first art exhibition was held a year after the centre opened.
Jenni Lomax became the Director in 1990. She created many of the programmes we see today, like exhibitions and artist residencies. She also led a big project to make the building even better, which finished in 2004.
Martin Clark became the new Director in 2017, and the centre's name officially changed to "Camden Art Centre" in 2020.
