New art space for Cardiff

Alternative Art Space

Despite the recent cuts to UK arts budgets, creativity continues to flourish as teams of enterprising artists have been finding alternative ways to create and promote their art.

Co-founder of the Morgan Arcade Studio, Dan Hamilton says “As creative people we must take responsibility for making things happen ourselves and looking for opportunities wherever and whenever they arise. We cannot rely on others to do it for us, and nor should we.”

Many in Cardiff have already heeded this advice and come up with innovative ways to display art:

Arcade Art

This pop-up space in Queens Arcade (just inside the Queen Street entrance) is currently playing host to different artists for two week stints.

project/ten

A quarterly, pop-up gallery project in temporary locations, the latest project/ten exhibition is being held in the Castle Arcade from 1-23 of December.

Cardiff Christmas Market

Every Christmas, craft stalls full of unique pieces of art line the streets of Cardiff in a very public display. Best of all, it’s affordable art that you can take home with you.

A new affordable studio space will soon open in Cardiff

: Part of the floor plan for the new studio. Picture by Dan Hamilton

Founded by a group of UWIC design graduates and lecturers, The Morgan Arcade Studio will provide artists with a work space in the heart of Cardiff.

Just £50 to £70 a month will give a cash-strapped artist a place in the shared studio, which hosts up to 12 artists at a time.

Co–founder and administrator for the Morgan Arcade Studio, Dan Hamilton, says the space is so affordable because no profit is made from the shared rent, “All rent goes towards keeping the place open. Between everyone this works out a very affordable price, especially if you’ve just graduated.”

Currently at the planning stage, the studio will also play host to illustration symposiums and workshops held by Illustration Research.