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Hopes to open a queer art space in Bristol
Chris Hubley wants to create an LGBTQ+ art centre in Bristol.
Chris, a queer trans man, artist and drag performer, is hoping to launch a temporary space in autumn 2022 and is looking for those who might want to get involved to get in touch and help turn the dream into a reality.
The aim is to create a queer and safe space where LGBTQ+ people can share and experience art, history, culture through exhibitions and events.
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Chris also hopes to document these both online and in publications such as journals and books.
“LGBTQIA+ folk and other marginalised people are often unwelcome or unrepresented within artistic and academic establishments and may not have the resources to be professional artists, creators or writers, or to access work held by institutions,” says Chris, who is an art history student.
“Because of this we will work with people both within and outside of these establishments and work to make LGBTQIA+ art, history, culture, and knowledge more accessible to all.”
Instead, the artistic centre, which would begin as a temporary space with the hope of finding a permanent location, would create an independent community around LGBTQ+ expression and creativity.
It would not be reliant on commercialism, instead using grant funding, donations, subscriptions, cafe and art shop sales and hiring out the space once it is in a permanent location.
The planned shop will sell products including art, prints, books and zines but exhibitions held would be completely non-commercial.
Chris Hubley wants to create a queer art space in the city. Photo: Dan Regan.
“We will work with guest curators and artists and support them to share their vision and engage the community with their work, centring the voices of those who are marginalised within LGBTQIA+ communities including queer people of colour, women, trans people, disabled people and displaced people,” Chris adds.
“We reject the idea that people need approval from specific institutions to have art and ideas worth sharing and documenting. We also reject the hoarding of knowledge and history relevant to the lives of LGBTQIA+ people by these same institutions.”
Chris is now looking volunteers who have experience running similar projects to help turn his idea into reality.
“I want to provide a forum for LGBTQIA+ people’s contributions to art, history, culture and knowledge to be shared, celebrated and preserved,” they say.
“We recognise that this sharing of LGBTQIA+ art, history, culture and knowledge is inherently political, and we do so towards the goal of dismantling oppressive white hetero and cisnormative systems within both art and academic institutions and the wider culture.”
Main photo: Nicky Ebbage
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