From Key Arts

Current exhibition: Ghost, 8th-30th August 2008, open Fri/Sat/Sun, 1pm-6pm.

Key Arts is an artist-led space, at the moment based at St Mary at the Quay, Key Street, Ipswich, in the heart of the exciting dockside development.

St Mary's - for those of you who don’t know us - is a large, beautiful, and crumbling old disused church. The subtle hues and surprising chalky pinks of the walls have changed and softened over the years giving a warmth and new identity to this possibly austere empty building. In the day the light pours in through the windows, at dusk it is full of shadows and moods. We have no lighting and only a few power points so in the night the church can only be dimly lit, making it an exciting experience just to be there: this limitation makes it a fantastic place to show film and projections. Installations change and grow with the daylight.

You can find out more about its fascinating history on http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/stmaryatquay.htm

Key Arts is supported by The Churches Conservation Trust, Ipswich Borough Council,Turnstone and, of course, its members. Our aim is to assist artists who live in the local area of Ipswich and the region in their work, providing a much needed space where artists can meet and exchange ideas through exhibitions, events and talks. It is a place where artists and the community can come together - sharing in the creative opportunity that Key Arts offers.

We are an artist-led group. That means contributors who want to influence our activities, or lead new ones, are invited to make their suggestions.

Read the Key Arts FAQ if you are new to Key Arts and want to catch up quickly with what we are about.

Whats on...

The 2008 programme at St Mary-at-the-Quay is filling up fast. As people develop proposals to use the space, we'll post information, so keep an eye on it to make sure you don't miss anything.Click here for a full programme of future events.

Ghost Liz Bradshaw

Ghost August 2008 Ghost is a project conceptualised specifically for St Mary-at-the-Quay by Liz Bradshaw.

Heritage Open Weekend Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September. Antonia Hockton stone carving + other artists. Liz Bradshaw, instalation, Beryl Scot, printing and Annabel Mednick, painting.

Southend Exchange Exhibition Monday 15th - Sunday 21st September

The Big Draw Friday 10th October

Click here to find out about all our events from 2006, 2007, and 2008

Southend Exchange Exhibition

In our first exhibition swap with another group, artists from Southend will show in the Key Arts space, whilst our Footprint exhibition (pictured above) travels to Southend. More..

Members Online

As a member of Key Arts you can use this site to create a page for yourself, tell people about your work and show images of your work. Have a look at some of our artist profiles or add your own here

Join Key Arts

If you like what you see and want to get involved, the best way is to become a member. Whether you want to get really stuck in with some of our projects or put in a proposal of your own, membership is the best way to help Key Arts grow.

As a member of Key Arts you will be entitled to:

• a newsletter telling you about future events and activities you can be involved with

• your own page on our Members profiles page

• the opportunity to work in this inspiring place along with other members (studio space)

• submit proposals for future shows and projects

• come along to meetings, where you can meet and chat to local artists and talk about art and upcoming activities at the church

• enter work into group exhibitions organised for the whole membership.

• get 10% off art equipment at www.greatart.co.uk

By contributing the membership fee you will be helping us to grow as an organisation and help us to establish a great venue for people to come together and experience visual art.

The concessionary membership fee is only £10 for the year and £15 standard rate. Simply go Here and print the form; the address to send it to is on the form at the top left. Contact us at keyarts@hotmail.co.uk for any further info. We look forward to hearing from you.

Proposal to use the church

Do you have an idea for using the space? If you are a member you can make a proposal. We are open to suggestions. You can print off a form Here or contact us at keyarts@hotmail.co.uk. Click here for a plan of the church (pdf).

The 2008 programme is almost full with only some space from mid November through the winter. If you have a proposal for using the church at this time please get in touch.

Key Arts Members

Wendy J. Allen, Valerie Armstrong, Lesley Barker, Ally Berry, Nicola Bethell, Liz Bradshaw, Di Brendish, Wendy Brooke-Smith, Emma Buckmaster, Pamela Challis, Ben Clarke, Jonathan Clift, Patrick Constantine, Ed Cooper, Mark Dixon, Anna Dixon-Smith, Dorin Elvin, Jeff Endersby, Anthony Felgate, Andrew Flatman, James Fletcher, Kezia French, Annette Fry, Andrew Gibson, Louise Greenwood, Ian Griffiths, Elizabeth Gwilliam, Sharon Haley, Jonathan Hall, Penny Healey, Antonia Hockton, Cefn Hoile, jax horswill, Valerie Irwin, Evie Janssens, Emma Johnson, Marianne Koby Johnson, Stephen Joyce, Carol Lawrence, Christophe Liotard, Hayley Lock, Juliet Lockhart, Judith Lockie, Yvonne Markey, Annabel Mednick, Anne-Laure Misme, Malcolm Moseley, Christine Moseley-Chippendale, Sara Muzira, David Newton, Oskar Foxtrot Productions, Lucinda Pass, Alex Pearl, Jane Pollock, Laura Potter, Megan Price, Ursula Kit Price-Moss, Wendy Rainbow, Eileen Revett, Emma Reynolds, Ruth Richmond, Annabel Ridley, Amber Robinson, Mandy Rose, Sarah Ross, Zoë Rubens, Cormac Scanlan, Beryl Scott, Doug Selway, Jennie Sendall, Nan Sinclair, Wilson Smith, Catherine Spirit, Bev Stratton, Linda Theophilus, Emmeline Thrower, Borin Van Loon, Joanne Vince, Cathy Walsh, Rachel Ward, Amanda Warren, P.N. Watkins, Alisa Williams, Helen Woodward, Angela Wright,

Sponsorship