Why The Centre Fold needs you

THE Centre Fold Gallery needs you.

The non-profit organisation, which is run by a group of local young artists called the Readers-wives Collective, is searching for sponsorship to keep their gallery open and enable them to continue giving Guernsey unique and diverse art shows.

Since it began, the Centre Fold Gallery has been a driving force behind some of the island's high-profile exhibitions.

2006 saw them organise Mysterious Al and Matt Sewell's challenging exhibition at the Greenhouse featuring work by some of the world's leading street artists – including D*Face, Banksy and Faile.

Since then, they have organised 31 projects/events, including exhibitions, workshops, concerts, film screenings and quizzes. In the process they have generated a huge amount of interest from the general public and, more specifically, the youth generation, not only locally through press coverage but internationally through their contacts with several high profile art publications.

They have occupied their current space in Trinity Square since January 2008 and their website has, on average, 1,200 hits a month.

'After the success of our first year, we decided this year to attempt some much larger and more ambitious project involving internationally reputed artists and the forging of cultural links between Guernsey and Jersey in the hope of raising Guernsey's profile as a cultural centre,' said founder, artist Rost.

'Our efforts have been successful enough to garner attention from national and international blogs and press. However, this has increased the strain on our finances, despite some welcome funding from the newly formed Arts Commission.

'The Centre Fold Gallery was set up because, ultimately, we are extremely passionate about what we do – it's for the benefit of Guernsey. But unfortunately passion only goes so far where finances are concerned. We believe that places like the Centre Fold are invaluable to the island and without them there would almost certainly be a cultural void.'

Co-founder Kat Mather said that not only does the gallery bring over high profile artists, but fully supports local graduates as well.

'It is important that places like our gallery and studio exist in Guernsey as we have become part of a creative scene that will encourage art graduates to return to the island,' she said.

'Through initiatives like our £10 art sales and gallery DJ nights we have also gathered interest from young people who would normally not frequent gallery spaces. All this is important in creating a culturally aware society.'

The Centre Fold crew is looking for sponsors to help make exhibitions, workshops and projects.

• If you are interested in supporting the Centre Fold Gallery, contact Andy Smith on 727509.