Ally Wallace, artist-in-residence

The Victoria Baths Trust have received funding from Arts Council England North West to run arts activities at Victoria Baths in 2008. A key feature of this work is the appointment of an artist-in-residence to create work in response to Restoration Phase 1.

The Trust selected Ally Wallace for this work and he has been at work in the building over the summer.

Ally is a Glasgow based artist who currently works in paper. He has a strong interest in architectural space, its formal qualities and character. He wants his work to leave the lightest of footprints and has been eagerly soaking up the atmosphere and detail of Victoria Baths.

Ally's work STUCK CITIES will be open to view from 12 noon to 4pm on the following days:

Fri 19th, Sat 20th and Sun 21st Sep

Sat 27th and Sun 28th Sep

Sun 5th Oct

Viewing at other times can be arranged by our project office by emailing info@victoriabaths.org.uk or
ringing 0161 224 2020

Pool Arts

Pool Arts, a group of artists that have a long-standing connection with Victoria Baths, now have a new website - www.poolarts.org

Centenary Arts Programme

In 2006 we celebrated the centenary of the opening of Victoria Baths with a programme of arts activities. A full pictorial report is here.

Other news

Victoria Baths has hosted a variety of artist-led projects over the years. Artists have used the building as exhibition and performance space, studio, inspirational site and a research resource.

Currently Transition (Arts Programme at Victoria Baths) is researching the past use of Victoria Baths by artists of all kinds. If you have ever been involved in an arts project at Victoria Baths and would like to be involved please contact Alison Kershaw: alison.sl-arts@good.co.uk or through the Trust. Your work will be included in the Victoria Baths Art Archive and may be included in documentation materials and a publication.

Transition are also examining the possibilities of future development of the programme and remains committed to supporting Victoria Baths Trust to enable artists who wish to create work at Victoria Baths, whether they be professional, student or experimental projects.

Transition

The Transition arts programme aims to bring new work by artists to Victoria Baths. We hope this will give proper recognition of contributions that artist make to the broader dialogue about the building. It is creating new opportunities for artists and creating cultural capital in a deprived area by bringing new work to new audiences and art audiences to a community project. Two major exhibitions took place in September 2003 and 2004.

Swim
For the Time Being

Swim

This exhibition featured photographs, paintings, video and historical memorabilia about the culture of moving in water. The exhibition was lent to us by Lancashire County Museums. As well as images from Manchester's baths, there were pictures from swimming pools including lidos all over Lancashire and the rest of the country. David Cubbins' photographs and video vividly conveyed the movement of the body underwater. Photographs of Morecambe's Super Stadium seem strangely contemporary, a brave modern vision of leisure of the 1930s and 40s. Prints of David Hockney's "a bigger splash" series and a small group of paintings added colour and the painter's eye for the endless refraction and reflection which has always fascinated artists as they endeavour to capture the complex delight of water.

The Swim exhibition was complemented by a series of new works specifically created for Victoria Baths, with a brief to engage with local children in the process. More about Swim