Established in 1994 in a converted Victorian warehouse in South London, Gasworks provides studios for London-based artists and organises a programme of artists’ residencies, exhibitions, events and outreach projects. Started as an artist-run space, Gasworks was able to broaden its public programme in 1998 thanks to regular funding from Arts Council England, while maintaining its focus on supporting the development of emerging artists.
Gasworks houses the various aspects of contemporary art practice; conception, production, dissemination and debate, addressing the need of artists to make new work in a context that instigates dialogue and the exchange of ideas. This is supported through open-ended and process-based residencies, and through commissions that involve long-term engagement and discussion between coordinators, curators and artists.
With its exhibition programme, Gasworks aims to contextualise existing and new work within critical frameworks, presenting challenging perspectives on current debates in contemporary art.
Gasworks programmes and studio aims to: provide artists with a physical and conceptual space in which to develop, discuss and challenge their practice / Re-evaluate historical debates and challenge existing readings of international contemporary art through curatorial research and artists commissions / Engage the wider public in international contemporary art and its debates through multidisciplinary and participatory projects.
As a part of Triangle, an international network of artists and arts organisations, Gasworks is able to conduct in-depth curatorial research on an international level. While maintaining strong connections with the UK art scene through its programmes, Gasworks also draws on its links with Triangle Network to present emerging practices and artists from countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America, as well as from North America and the rest of Europe.
Residency programme: Gasworks develops a programme of 12 residencies per year for non UK-based artists, providing them with the support of Gasworks’ staff, its community of artists and access to resources in London. Residencies are for 3 months and are shaped around the interests and needs of each visiting artist. They include a series of presentations and open studios, connecting the artist with local audiences and art professionals. In some cases residencies end with an exhibition at Gasworks or an off-site project developed in collaboration with partners in London. The residency programme also programmes up to 5 fellowships each year, offering UK-based artists the opportunity to take up residencies overseas with other members of Triangle Network. Gasworks also provides 9 studios for rent to London-based emerging and mid-career artists for a period of 5 years. This facility responds to a critical need of artists for centrally-located, affordable facilities where they can develop their practice.
Exhibitions: Gasworks programmes 4-5 exhibitions each year, introducing critical approaches to contemporary art to London and the UK art scene. The programme provides a much needed platform for new ideas, concepts and methodologies, as such considers visual arts in its broadest sense. Gasworks research-led projects share an interest in unearthing and putting into perspective non-dominant social and political histories. As such, they have led to the creation of Pipeline (pipeline.gasworks.org.uk/), an online tool used to share texts, videos and audio entries which have informed the research and shaping of Gasworks’ projects.
New commissions: Gasworks often commissions the first major show of UK artists as well as international practitioners, with an emphasis on those working in countries that are under-represented in the UK. The programme develops a dialogue with exhibiting artists over a substantial period of time, offering them extensive pastoral, curatorial and managerial support.
Other activities: Over the years, Gasworks has hosted over 200 visiting artists. Several residencies are developed in partnership with international foundations including: ACAX, Hungary; IASPIS, Sweden; Beca AMA, Chile; Premio PIPA, Brazil and Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal. Gasworks regularly hosts the Cartier Award, developed in collaboration with Frieze Art Fair and is currently working with the Natural History Museum in London for a series of residencies by artists from China, Australia and India.
Gasworks presents approximately four to five projects each year.
Most outstanding projects in recent years:
Solo exhibitions: Renata Lucas, 2007; Martin Beck, 2008; The Otolith Group, 2009; Mateo L—pez, 2010.
Group exhibitions: “Everything has a name or the potential to be named”, 2009; “Hydrarchy: Power and Resistance at Sea”, 2010; “Do you remember Olive Morris?”, developed in collaboration with artist Ana Laura Lopez de la Torre, 2009; “Disclosures series”, 2008 (ongoing).
Residencies and exhibitions are complemented by events including artistsÕ talks, seminars, conferences, screenings and performances.
A more targeted and interactive programme is offered to Gasworks’ local communities through specifically designed educational and outreach activities.
Gasworks develops a series of educational workshops and other interactive projects aimed at a cross-generational local public in order to introduce artistic practices as tools for self-development and social cohesion.
The programme seeks to encourage, support and facilitate the active involvement and engagement of people living locally in Gasworks’ Exhibition and Residencies Programmes through workshops, talks and discussions that are often led by artists. The programme also collaborates with local organisations to design activities for younger audiences, families and community groups.
Gasworks’ three-storey Victorian warehouse conversion covers an area of approximately 600m2.
Exhibition space of approximately 110m2, 12 artists studios ranging from 20 to 35 m2, 3 offices and an education/project room of approximately 35 m2.
