The Quay Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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The Quay Arts Centre in August 2011.
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Warehouse |
| Town or city | Newport |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°42′07″N 1°17′33″W / 50.7019°N 1.2924°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Tony Fretton |
The Quay Arts Centre is a super cool place for art and live shows! It's located right by the River Medina in Newport, which is in the middle of the Isle of Wight. It's known as the best art gallery and event spot on the island.
This amazing place has three art galleries where you can see awesome artwork. There's also a crafts shop, a theatre that can hold 134 people, and a cafe. The whole building got a big makeover in 1997 by architect Tony Fretton. The Quay Arts also runs another building nearby called Jubilee Stores.
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A Look Back: How Quay Arts Began
The idea for the Quay Arts Centre started way back in 1974. A painter named Anne Lewington and a graphic designer named Nigel Lewington thought it would be great to have a special building for art on the island. They found some old brewery warehouses by the Newport Harbour that seemed perfect. This is exactly where the Quay Arts Centre stands today!
In 1976, the buildings were sold to the Isle of Wight Council for £14,000. The centre officially opened its doors in 1982, welcoming everyone to enjoy art and culture.
Dealing with Floods and Big Changes
Since it opened, the ground floor of the centre sometimes had problems with flooding. To help stop this, a flood wall was built in 1993. Even with the wall, some flooding still happened.
Then, in 1996, the centre got a big boost! They received money from the National Lottery. This allowed them to completely fix up and reopen the centre in 1998. This project also included developing the Rope Store next door to show even more art.
Today, the main cafe area at Quay Arts is a lively spot for music. They have events like "Acoustic Originals," which features local musicians. Another event, "Songs in the Quay of...", invites local performers to sing songs by famous artists.
Explore the Quay Arts Centre: What's Inside?
The Quay Arts Centre has many different areas for art, performances, and learning. Let's take a look at some of the cool spaces you can find there.
Theatres and Rooms for Learning
- Anthony Minghella Theatre – This theatre is named after Anthony Minghella, a famous director who grew up on the island. He opened it in 1997. It's a busy place that hosts all sorts of live events. You can see comedy shows, world music, folk, jazz, and blues concerts. They also have small plays and fun shows for kids. Sometimes, they even show movies!
- Seminar Room – This is a small room right next to the cafe. It's about 57 square meters big and can fit up to 50 people. It's often used for meetings or workshops.
- Green Room – Located in the Rope Store, this room is a bit smaller than the Seminar Room. It can hold about 15 people and is a cozy space for smaller groups.
Galleries and Creative Spaces
- Cafe Wall – This is like a fourth art gallery at the Quay Arts Centre! It's a special place where new artists, young artists, and people showing their work for the first time can display their art. It hosts at least 11 different art shows every year.
- West Gallery – This is a large space that encourages new and exciting ideas in visual arts. It's named after General Sir Michael West, who was part of the group that helped start the Quay Arts in 1975.
- Rope Store – The Rope Store opened in 1997 after the big renovation. It's a smaller space that shows both solo and group art exhibitions. It hosts at least nine different shows each year.
- Clayden Gallery – This gallery is mainly for showing and supporting the work of young people and new artists from the island. Sometimes, it connects with the West Gallery's exhibitions as part of the Quay Arts' outreach programs. It hosts at least ten exhibitions every year.
- Craft Shop – If you love unique handmade items, you'll enjoy the Craft Shop! It features amazing work from over sixty craft makers from the island and the surrounding area. Many of the crafts you find here are special to the Isle of Wight.
Jubilee Stores: A Hub for Artists
- Jubilee Stores – This is a separate building located on Newport Harbour. It's a fantastic place for artists to work! It has a Ceramics Workshop, a General Workshop, and a Print Studio. There are also seven private studios where artists can create their masterpieces.
