GALLERY LIVE 2023
Taking over the High street as part of the Stony Live festival, look forward to welcoming you back for our second event starting 1st June with our private view at 6 pm to see 22 fantastic artists showcasing their work.
Kindly supported by .........
Taking Over The High Street
Gallery Live, established in the spring of 2022 and launched as part of Stony Live in the June 2022 with one mission to take over the High Street and turn it into one big gallery.
Sixteen local artists were selected from an open call or invitation, the criteria being that they must all work collaboratively, sharing knowledge and experience, media coverage and technical support on the install day.
New and emerging artists were included alongside more established artists, although the work was showing in an alternative way, the show was fully curated with all expected gallery criteria and traditions were still to be met and executed. As well at the private view where you could meet the artists, we held an art tour and to all intents and purposes we treated the event as if we were in a gallery while on our High Street.
It was a very successful event with many attending on the private view evening and during the evening and over the course of the week there were fantastic sales generated for the artists, plus there was a marked increase in footfall for the shops over that week too, where people highlighted, they had come to see the show when popping into shops.
Collaboration is the key
Gallery Live recognised early on that producing an art show on such a large scale needed a lot of collaboration and support from both the artists, the local community and shops we would be invading. Essentially the mission was to leave all parties happy, no one person, artist, shop or action was more important than the other, all moving parts needed to work in harmony.
Offering opportunities to underseen, emerging artist alongside established artist to show their work together, creating this team of artists who established friendships and relationships prior to the event strengthened the comradery where they all pushed every artist, increasing our reach of publicity and interest in our event and offered tech support during installation day.
The Future
As we plan the future Gallery Live will continue to support artists and gain opportunities, there is a real lack of independent galleries, it is becoming harder and harder to gain exposure for both new creatives and artists overall, we hope to become a platform that showcases and discovers some hidden gems alongside the better known.
We have a permanent Gallery Live window on the High Street in Stony Stratford, sponsored by O’Dells and French Affair with a two-week changing art display.
Gallery Live will return to the High Street Stony Stratford for Stony Live 2023
We are already working with and looking for new High Streets to work collaboratively with as part of art events and the regeneration of the High Street initiative, promoting and supporting artists in new areas alongside local businesses.
Working with both charities and large events to provide a full gallery event within your event.
Artist Experience
Gallery Live strives to provide a showcase for new, emerging and experienced artists to have their work shown and promoted equally. We work very collaboratively with the artists both individually and establishing teams working together sharing information, support and experience. Looking for new and alternative ways to promote and show art to a wider audience and gain further opportunities.
With our less experienced artists we provide support and advice all along the show process with presentation and framing, promotion advice alongside next steps and sales support.
‘It was the most successful pop-up event I have had the pleasure of participating. The planning, organisation and activation was a flawless experience from my perspective.
Debra Danu Matthews was such a professional in involving 16 artists in collaboration with the local Stony Stratford High Street businesses.
I would not hesitate to be a part of another event if considered. I think it helped and promoted the collaboration of the arts to the street with an effective personal touch.
A brilliant and very worthwhile experience altogether, I might also add that I was successful in selling a key piece of artwork which has the potential to led to more potential sales in an area that has rare opportunities for local artists to reach the public eye. Brilliant! - Thank you’
Steve Urwin
Participating Artist
Get in touch
If you are an arts festival or event, local parish/town council, business association, charity or event organiser and feel Gallery Live could work with your association or event please get in touch.
Artists: We are always looking for talented artists both established, new and emerging, please email debragallerylive@gmail.com with up to 4 images of your work, link to your website/social media with a brief artist statement. These are an artist collaborative project, and you must read and agree to the artist outline before applying, go to our Facebook page for more information.
Applications from artists only, no craft-based arts or products. All artistic practices painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, digital paintings, etching, lino cutting etc will be considered.
