David Ummels, its founder and chairman, told yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce panel discussion that an annual street art festival was being planned.
‘I think it’s going to be a magnet and a great entertainment source for the French visitors,’ he said.
‘I’m on a mission with the team to transform the Old Quarter into the cultural and art world. To bring new life and new footfall to help all the traders and shops and cafes and so on. I think it would bring huge benefit.’
Art for Guernsey is also looking to collaborate with the art students of St Malo. Mr Ummels said it would take its scholarship programme, where selected students go away for art experiences, from London to St Malo in the future. He said its Renoir exhibition brought about £7m. in to the local economy and he would look to develop that concept in future.
Mr Ummels also praised the decision to select Brittany Ferries as the island’s contracted ferry operator some 16 months ago.
‘I’m not always the most complimentary of the States,’ he said.
‘But credit due, I think there are a few structural reasons why we are here today – in a successful environment. The decision to work with Brittany Ferries, a much more trusted brand, was the right one. All the economic development work that I’ve witnessed being done over the past four or five years has been brilliant, and deserves to be celebrated.’