Final Shop show 14th May 2009 + Comments please

Images from Final Shop Show on our Flickr gallery

Hello! Our final show had over 350 people exploring our Shop, not only family and friends but, the less usual art audience of passers by out shopping in the Whitgift, or going to catch a tram or bus, or those on a lunch break from work. This real engagement with the community was fantastic for our students where the artist in a traditional gallery situation, is absent upon the audience's viewing.

Thanks to all those who popped in and chatted to our Shop-assistant-artist-tour-guides, and the whole Visual Arts and Design department staff and students for making so much creativity out of so little, having real enthusiasm and energy, a great sense of adventure and play to make this event and the past two months residency so unusual and vibrant. This project was set up in echoing contemporary practice where artists are increasingly moving into empty shops in this current financial climate.

We will be posting more about this, including some of the wonderfully supportive comments left in our feedback book in the Shop shortly, we are on a break til 1st June to take a well earned rest....well done everyone!

Meanwhile...we'd love to have your comments on our project so do please read our blog and respond to staff and student posts.

The shop is written about in the Croydon Advertiser

The Shop has been reviewed in the Croydon Advertiser, a local Croydon newspaper:

by Dave Burke
dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk

Shoppers in the Whitgift Centre are in for an unusual sight over the next few weeks, as an art gallery with a difference throws open its doors.

An empty shop has been handed over to pupils from the Brit School, who have been briefed to create an exhibition celebrating Croydon's history.For the whole time that artworks are being created, members of the public will be able to stroll in and see the budding Picassos and Van Goughs at work putting the display together.

Youngsters from the Selhurst school's art department have until May 14 to create their masterpieces.

Explaining the project, deputy head Simon Collins told the Advertiser: "It's very experimental, we've never done anything like this before.

"But this is the Brit School, we're all about doing unusual things.No one's been using this space for a long time, so we're aiming to put some life back into it."

Students on the school's BTEC art course will be swatting up on the history of Croydon, and have been told to use all the space in the former Legends beachwear store - close to the centre's Wellesley Road entrance - including all the changing rooms, the stairs and the counter.

Mr Collins said: "The building's got a lot of character, so it's really exciting. We've been told we can do what we want, as long as we return it in its original state at the end of May."

Nearly 30 pupils will be hard at work filling the space, and as they surveyed the task in hand, their excitement was obvious.

Nicole Bedborough, 16, said: "It's nice working here, it makes a change and it feels like we're being part of the community.When we come to making the final pieces, everyone's going to be on a real high."

Friend Antonia Ramsey, also 16, added: "It will be a lot different to what we're used to doing.
"It's exciting having members of the public coming in while we're working."

Bosses at the shopping centre hope the move will generate some excitement and draw people in.
Whitgift Centre director Andrew Bauer said: "I personally think that this project will fascinate our visitors and provide invaluable feedback to these top flight students, a win/win event for Croydon's residents and visitors."

Link to article:
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/news/Brit-School-pupils-shop-Whitgift-Centre/article-890253-detail/article.html

Flyer for our Shop installation

Shop flyer

Welcome to our Shop installation art project!

Hello!

For 2 months, from Monday 30th March til Thursday 14th May 29 Year 12 BTEC National Diploma Art and Design students from the BRIT School, Croydon will be experimenting with low tech site-responsive installation art creating an array of giant type, projected window displays, expressive drawing...and who knows what.....this blog will be space for the students and staff on the project to share their experiences, and we hope you'll get involved and comment on our posts too.

Please do come by and engage with us in our living evolving studio. Some art activities may require participation if you're up for it (!) and we'd love your feedback to help the project grow :)

The sessions are;
Mondays 9.45- 1
Tuesdays 9-1pm
Wednesdays 10.45-1pm
Thursday 2.15- 4.15pm
Fridays 9.45- 1pm

(Apart from 6th- 13th April)
Final event: Thursday 14th May 2009: 2-7pm. All Welcome.


Where we are: Unit 50-51, Whitgift Centre, Croydon , CR0 1UQ

The Shop used to be Legends Surf shop, to the right of this photo above

Green shop front to the far right in this photograph. Continuing past this shop is to a subway out of the Whitgift Centre, to trams and buses and Wellesley Road

Top floor



Upstairs fitting rooms
Downstairs


Behind the scenes