Sky News Debate at Arnolfini
Arnolfini is one of Europe’s leading independent contemporary arts organisations. Since its foundation in 1961, Arnolfini has gained an international reputation for commissioning and presenting innovative, experimental work in the visual arts, live art, dance, film, music, poetry and literature, accompanied by a strong programme of educational activities. It is dedicated to encouraging the practice and knowledge of the contemporary arts and is a dynamic centre for cultural activity, debate and ideas. Arnolfini has one of the best arts bookshops in the country and a stylish, lively café bar.
Arnolfini was established in 1961 by artists Jeremy and Annabel Rees with the support of Peter and Caroline Barker Mill above a bookshop on the Triangle in Bristol. Its policy then is still relevant today: “to seek out challenging, often controversial and sometimes relatively unknown artists and performers and to provide a vital showcase for their work”.
Arnolfini is named after Jan van Eyck’s masterpiece ‘The Arnolfini Marriage’ depicting the merchant and arts patron Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife. The painting is now in the collection of the National Gallery, London. Arnolfini is open Tuesday – Sunday with free admission to the building, exhibition spaces, bookshop and café bar. Since 1975, it has occupied three floors of Bush House, an impressive Grade II listed waterfront warehouse on Narrow Quay. This proved a catalyst in attracting other businesses to the then neglected docks. The revitalised Harbourside is now a focal point for Bristol’s social and cultural life. Arnolfini attracts around 400,000 visits a year.
Arnolfini is a space for ideas – a place that encourages experimentation, discussion, debate and interaction with different artforms, in all spaces in the building. We collaborate with local, national and international partners to present a diverse programme that combines innovation with a lively atmosphere of experimentation, enjoyment and inclusion.
Since 1961 Arnolfini has showcased work by hundreds of challenging and sometimes controversial artists and performers, often relatively unknown at the time. Major UK artists such as Gillian Ayres, Stuart Brisley, Peter Doig, Angus Fairhurst, Damien Hirst, Patrick Heron, Susan Hiller, Howard Hodgkin, Richard Long, Albert Oehlen, Michael Snow, Mark Titchner, and Rachel Whiteread have all shown work at Arnolfini. Contemporary music, dance and performance groups including Bodies in Flight, Blast Theory, Forced Entertainment, Goat Island Performance Group, Jerome Bel, Michael Clark, Akram Khan, London Sinfonietta, Philip Glass Ensemble, Random Dance, and Shobana Jeyasingh have all performed at Arnolfini. Arnolfini has also played host to a number of festivals, including the first Festival of British Independent Cinema and the biennial Inbetween Time Festivals of Live Art and the Bristol Artists Book Events.
Current exhibitions at Arnolfini include Imogen Stidworthy; her first major survey in the UK and includes recent moving image and sound pieces such as I Hate. Opening on Saturday 24 April is Otto Zitko and Louise Bourgeois, Me Myself and I. Zitko has made an all enveloping drawing intervention throughout the building covering three floors, whilst Louise Bourgeois shows 60 beautiful intimate drawings.
In 2011, Arnolfini celebrates its 50th birthday, and will have a full programme of events, performances and exhibitions that will look back alongside looking forward to the next 50 years. Please get in touch for opportunities relating to sponsorship and partnership for the anniversary.
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Published on: 21 April 2010