Skip to content
Arnolfini - est 1961


As part of our summer exhibition The Promise we are offering you the chance to win a copy of Concrete by Leonard Koren. The Promise is an exhibition project that focuses on the relationship between a city’s design and the hopes and ambitions of its residents. As part of this we are looking for you to share your favourite hidden corners of the city in which you live.

The team have been selecting their favourite parts of Bristol and sharing these with you. These include hidden gems, favourite spaces, architecture, inventive uses for space and clever ways in which residents are reclaiming the city.

Read more about the exhibition here.

First up Axel Wieder our Curator of Exhibitions…

“…the old Pilkington glass factory is one of my favourite spots in the city, it’s as close to Chelsea – New York as Bristol can get. Sometimes one can see open doors to great spaces or half dilapidated overgrown inner courtyards. This specific image is a gap between two buildings with a gas pump. It’s remarkable that this large defunct area is so central, just between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour, in between large office high-rises”

Lucy Badrocke our Interim Curator of Exhibitions chose this one…

“On my way to work, I pass through a pedestrianised area at the bottom of Stapleton Road, behind Old Market – a wide avenue of plane trees, sandwiched between blocks of flats, offices and shops. Walking through the dappled sunshine in the summer, it’s a small and unexpected corner of Paris”

Alice Titsall (via Twitter @AliceTitshall) – Young Arnolfini member has chosen this spot “Tucked away next to the river by Create Centre, Bristol”

Cai Burton (via Twitter @CaiBurton) – Young Arnolfini member has chosen Warmley Waiting Room.

Sooz Moon, Digital Manager (via Instagram) – “I love the way the architect thought about not only the aesthetic detail of these doors but also that they naturally force neighbours together which now offers up the opportunity for the formation of a community in cities in which residents become increasingly disengaged”

Ellie Jeffs, Interim Learning Manager chose (via Instagram): “Amazing and unusual views of #bristol from #bristolobservatory one of my very favourite spots in the city. I love a camera obscura! #promisebristol”

Duty Manager – James Sargent has uploaded “Frames of Bristols architectural history

Yiota Demetriou, Exhibitions Assistant, (PhD Performance Studies, UoB) – Upfest Bristol 2013

@FionaClabon – member of #YoungArnolfini “…a cute surprise walking home”

Holly McGrane, Assistant Marketing Manager.. “ own Fuller Building. Sort of”

Share your photos with us on Twitter or Instagram @arnolfiniarts using the hash tag #PromiseBristol or email  with your entry.

The winning entry will be chosen by our team and will get a hardback copy of Concrete by Leonard Koren from Arnolfini Shop.

Entries close at 12pm on 28 September and the winner will be announced on 30 September.

This competition forms part of our summer exhibition The PromiseThe Promise is an exhibition project that focuses on the relationship between a city’s design and the hopes and ambitions of its residents. Exhibitions and events will take place in Arnolfini galleries and across Bristol.