Temporary Art Space Q & A Part 2
Why “Temporary Art Space”?
We weren’t keen on calling it a gallery as it can be a very powerful word which can distance the art and the audience. We want to establish more of a community which involves the local community in its entirety as much as local, national and international artists. We thought it was important to include “temporary” in the title so people would be aware of the transient “here today gone tomorrow” situation.
Why six months?
This was the duration offered by the Council after initial discussions. We were happy to take on a space for any amount of time, a week, a month or six months – whatever we could get.
Why unfunded?
Funding application can be incredibly time consuming and a gamble whether devoting so much time to writing an application will pay. We aren’t anti- public funding – previous projects wouldn’t have been possible without it – but we are experienced in doing stuff on shoestring budgets. We work part time or full time in low-wage un-art-related jobs, which help fund both this type of activity and our own art practices, which may seem a bizarre way of doing it but it gives us financial security knowing that we will actually receive money after putting in hours of hard work. There’s more freedom in what you can do when not funded by a public body – there’s no criteria you need to aim at fulfilling to ensure your application is successful. There’s no strings attached. We like to promote the DIY ethos and self-reliance. We're also looking into local business sponsorship although not anticipating much in the current economic climate.
What about the existing Art Gallery in the Piece Hall? Aren't you almost directly above it?
Yes – we're on the top floor overlooking the Piece Hall Gallery & Information Centre. We think it's an ideal location and are looking to work with the Gallery to have joint openings and of course cross-promote events. The permanent gallery is a different type operation to what we're doing but we hope their audience will be interested in what we're doing and vice versa.
Why this programme?
Themes of temporary, the everyday, DIY, all-inclusivity & social structures are key and common themes within our own art practices. We thought about one month long was a suitable duration to enable a good amount of people to come to each exhibition but to also have an adequate number of exhibitions and events in the short period we'll occupy the space. The changeover shows are cramming in as much art into the six months as possible, meaning the space wont be closed for one week each month and also present a unique (temporary) situation for artists to respond to. Open calls mean everyone has the opportunity to get involved, worldwide.
Temporary Art Space Q & A Part 1
What is it?
Temporary Art Space is a contemporary gallery run by artists for artists and the community (not for the rich and famous, not for a select number of individuals in the art world). We like to orchestrate situations which are of immediate benefit to us and our contemporaries (eg exhibitions, also publications). We're not interested in selling work, simply showing it. Individually, we regularly exhibit at other galleries and alternative spaces run by other people, but we do like to undertake our own curatorial projects too. Sometimes it’s because there’s a deficiency of opportunities and sometimes it's because an opportunity arises or sometimes a mixture of both these factors.
How did the group form?
Alice knew about Milk Two Sugars (Bob Milner and Tom Senior) and contacted them to present to Centrifuge Art Prize. Bob and Tom knew Kevin and Georgia. We all met in pub and got on well. We decided to do a show together. Alice was resident at Bates Mill at the time and Richard, the owner, was very enthusiastic for us to exhibit there.
How did Temporary Art Space come about?
After Temporary Art Show in Huddersfield, which was a great success, we were discussing what to do next. We were thinking local (West Yorkshire) and the Piece Hall was mentioned as a possible venue due to it being a fantastic building, central location and units standing empty. We approached the Council and asked for some space for a short term art project and they agreed! They have been very supportive of the project from the beginning.
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LOCATION
Temporary Art Space | Units 34-35 | The Piece Hall | Halifax | HX1 1RE
Multimap
BY BUS:
We are 5 minutes walk away from Halifax Bus Station.
Halifax Bus Station serves routes from all over Calderdale as well as Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Rochdale and Burnley.
Calderdale & Huddersfield First Group Bus Services
West Yorkshire Metro
BY TRAIN:
We are 5 minutes walk away from Halifax Bus Station.
Halifax Train Station in on the Caldervale Line with direct services from Bradford-Leeds-York from the East and Todmorden-Rochdale-Manchester, Brighouse-Huddersfield-Wakefield and Burnley-Blackburn-Preston-Blackpool from the West.
National Rail
West Yorkshire Metro
BY CAR:
From Leeds: take Junction 26 off the M62 and follow the A58 to Halifax.
From Manchester: take Junction 24 off the M62 and follow the A629 to Halifax.
PARKING:
There is Pay & Display parking at Eureka! which is signposted in brown from the M62.
The Piece Hall is 5 minutes walk from Eureka!
BY PLANE:
Halifax is less than an hour travel from both Leeds-Bradford International Airport and Manchester Airport.
THE PIECE HALL
Originally the smaller Cloth Hall, The Piece Hall was opened on 1st January 1779 as a place for hand loom weavers to sell their pieces of cloth. Halifax is a wool town and a variety of the cloths were made from wool. Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford all had Cloth Halls of which none have survived. The trade at the Piece Hall, also then known as the Manufactures' Hall, declined in the 19th Century and cotton cloth was permitted to be sold in attempt to boost trade.
The building eventually became a wholesale fish, game, fruit and vegetable market with the top floor of the building disused. At this time it was officially named the Market Hall but it also continued to be known as the Piece Hall.
In 1928 the Piece Hall was officially recognised as a historical monument and the future of the building highly debated. In 1972 the decision was made to restore the building. Market traders were moved to other premises and the 300 shop units in the Piece Hall converted to over 50 larger shops. In 1976 the renovated Piece Hall was reopened.
Currently the Piece Hall houses a range of shops, studios, cafés and the Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre. Various events are hosted at the Piece Hall courtyard as well as the popular annual ice rink. But several shop units now stand empty with lack of trade and its future continues to be debated.
The Piece Hall is a Grade 1 listed building. It is a large rectangular stone structure of approximately 100 metres in length, and 83 metres in breadth with an interior cobblestone courtyard. It has 3 storeys of shop units with balconies overlooking the courtyard. There are 3 entrances; north Woolshops entrance, south Cross Street / Horton Street entrance and west Westgate entrance. A lift to all floors is situated in the south-east corner and there are public toilets including disabled toilets situated at the north side.
The Piece Hall is situated in the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire, between Manchester and Leeds and is at the heart of the Calderdale borough. The building is just minutes walk from both Halifax train and bus stations. It is also within walking distance from local attractions Eureka!, Square Chapel, Victoria Theatre and Dean Clough.
