WINDOWS 204

What people say/Testimonials
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Comments from people who have engaged with Windows204

I walk past 204 almost everyday taking my small children to school.  Normally art doesn't interest me much but I must say that looking to see what is currently on show in the windows, is both a treat and a fascination for me and also for my children.  It is always interesting, although I often don't understand it, but we often finish our walk to school talking about what we have seen. 

A local mum


Windows 204 was a marvellous inspiring place. Freed from the constraints of commercialism it provided unestablished artists with a springboard towards wider fame. It was only possible due to the rates policy of Bristol City Council. This must continue if Bristol is to grow as a primary arts centre in the UK.
It must be said that during the five years of its existence, other arts spaces have sprung up along similar models, and they in turn have provided the raison d'être for people to visit Gloucester road as day trippers. This has encouraged general trade and (unlike elsewhere in Britain,) encouraged more successful small businesses in the direct area.
So it can be seen that by helping to provide rates relief for space for art, Bristol council has indirectly helped itself to generate more local rates payments from more and more businesses. This has been, and should continue to be, both philanthropic and good business for the council. Nothing more to say really!

Matthew


Windows 204. A space for meeting, for nurturing creative talent, for channeling positivity, for creating the good at a difficult economic time, run by people who choose to place community ahead of a profit motive, should be cherished as a beacon, a way of creating and improving communities, and of ensuring that a vibrant creative cultural life is made available to the whole community. To choose to tax such a philanthropic endeavour would surely be an absurd act of vandalism, working against the interests of the whole community, both in the short and long term, and leave the city the poorer as a result.
Chuck Elliott

‘Windows 204 is one of the great little places that provide a seedbed for creative businesses to grow. Without low cost opportunities to exhibit and experiment many small scale producers and experimental makers have little chance to bring their work to the public eye. Its too expensive to hire high street spaces. If fresh, contemporary work is to reach the public, high street places  are invaluable. Much contemporary art can only be viewed by those who know where to look and are able to seek it out in odd, tucked away places. Finding new ideas when you pop out for sugar is what we need. Windows 204 was part of that Bristol magic.’
Sofie

I came to Bristol to do an MA in Fine Art, and a crucial part of that course has been organising exhibitions. During the three years of the course I have participated and shown in seven exhibitions in Bristol, all of them have been in rate exempt premises. The very interesting curatorial project in Windows 204, 204/2010, was the first show I was involved with in Bristol and it was a very formative event and brought quite a number of new artists together.
The fantastic opportunity enabled by Windows204 has been so valuable and perhaps the part of the course through which I have learned most. None of those shows would have happened without Rate Relief and clearly Bristol would be a duller and less artistically active city without such help from the council.
yours Anwyl Cooper-Willis

The closure of Windows204

I was sad to note the closure of Windows204, as this long running space created opportunities for a wide range of artists to share their work with the local community. The presence of the gallery also contributed to the development of that stretch of the Gloucester Rd as a vibrant and welcoming destination.

 

I am very grateful to Deborah for giving me the chance to show my work at Windows204: it was very useful part of a process of moving my artistic practice into a more public arena.

 

I am alarmed that Bristol City Council is planning to cut rate relief for non-profit arts organisations. This seems a very short sighted measure as these ventures contribute so much to the local community and support struggling artists at very little cost. The energy, imagination and enthusiasm of people engaged in such enterprises is invariably given freely and helps to generate the exciting creative environments that our city prides itself upon.

 

Sandy Creighton




"Windows204 provided a fantastic opportunity for myself as an emerging artist by giving me the opportunity to create my first installation viewable to the public. This enabled me to secure following exhibiting opportunities in various gallery spaces by showcasing what I could do given the opportunity"

Chantal Powell

I became aware of Windows204 as soon as it was up and running - you couldn't help but notice the innovative,thought-provoking art installations. There had been nothing like it before locally,and it sparked off many different projects and events.
I was fortunate to be involved with an annual group show for 1 month of the year.This was invaluable to me as a self-employed artist and brought me into contact with so many people involved in a similar business.I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity and will very much miss Windows204 as a creative platform bringing artists and the community together. It certainly brought new life to a stretch of the Gloucester road that was struggling ,and although some still remain ,Windows204 departing, has left a grey,blank space ...literally !I'm hoping something will emerge to replace it.
Many,many thanks 204,
Sarah Cowper

I really appreciated the chance to do a solo show in Windows204 for a week. It was a fantastic experience and I had a really good response from passersby. I also loved checking out what was going on when I passed by that part of town. Wish there were more places like it all over Bristol, offering young and old an opportunity to show case their work to the public. It's things like this that make Bristol a great, vibrant, creative and interesting place to live.

Rick Standing
SPIN8



I am writing as a  local artist who has benefited from the facilities provided by Windows 204 on Gloucester Road. 
 
I have exhibited my work on several occasions (in group shows) at Windows 204 over the last five years.  The reaction by the public to these temporary exhibitions has been overwhelming.  The increased footfall to that stretch of Gloucester Road during "pop up shows" is clear for anyone to see.  Not only does it provide an affordable exhibition space for people like me to show my work, it acts as a talking point for the local community, who appreciate that "we are there", aesthetically enhancing and adding value to their local shop fronts, increasing footfall, getting people to spend money.  As an artist, I am constantly having to justify my existence, and "fight" for my right to make a living.  On many occasions I have gained new clients because they "saw my work at 204" and would like to buy or commission a piece of work.  Artists need places like Windows 204 to help us promote our work and support us in forging a living. It is an important part of the creative food chain of your local community.
 
Laura Cramer




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e-mail: windows204@mac.com