‘Collectors are ready to show valuable art’
THERE are collectors ready to display famous artworks at a new art gallery in the Old Quarter in Town.
Art for Guernsey founder David Ummels yesterday revealed that old masters to modern British masters could be displayed within a ‘micro-museum’ within the Mansell Street art gallery, which the charity is leading the development of.
Addressing a Chamber of Commerce lunch, he also said the project could help revitalise the Old Quarter by both attracting people to the area and working with neighbouring businesses to maximise the benefits.
‘Our place is surrounded by beautiful, vintage windows and the last thing we want to do is to take the soul away from the building and replace that. But that doesn’t provide us with a great deal of security,’ said Mr Ummels.
‘The way to address that is within the gallery to create what we temporarily call a strong room. A room that would be a micro-museum, if you will, with proper humidity and temperature management so that we can display one artwork at a time.’
With a lot of goodwill locally, such a room would allow the display of works by some of the world’s most famous artists, he said.
‘They are a lot of private collectors who would help if we had a fit and proper environment.
‘So, in that strong room we will do two things – we will display very inspiring, fantastic artworks, from old masters to contemporary artists who are really world class,’ said Mr Ummels.
‘That will create an opportunity for the schools to come. That will create an opportunity for you to enjoy it.
‘That will also create an opportunity for us to tell the entire world that we do different things here.
‘We don’t do things like any other country because we trust each other and because we trust each other we can ensure those things at four or five times less premium than the very same artwork in another country.’
That would also send a ‘very strong inner and outer message’ about Guernsey.
‘I know that there are collectors with Goya, Gainsborough, Banksy, Renoir and the like. So we’ll be rotating those,’ added Mr Ummels.
‘When we don’t have an iconic artwork in the strong room, that will be the virtual reality room. I’m sure it’s going to be a hit with the children.
‘We’ll try to do two things – to create a virtual artwork that can saved digitally so you can go home with it, and also to allow the community, and probably the younger and actually the older ones, to visit the National Gallery virtually.’
Other features planned for the gallery include a ‘curating space’ at the entrance, a hospitality space, the gallery and an art library. A children’s workshop and gallery will be aimed at schools and local youngsters and be a space for presentations, meetings, creative projects, lectures and workshops, with their work being curated all year round.
Another educational link will be the setting up of the AFG Academy, for students to use art materials and equipment and help them to acquire skills and confidence.
