The official launch of East Street Arts’ latest space, UNION 105, will see every available inch of wall transformed by a new exhibition ‘Chapeltown Salon’, inspired by the great philosophical and literary French salons of the 18th century.
UNION 105 is a space not only for creative people in Chapeltown and Leeds, but nationally and internationally. Supported by Sharing the Success, (Leeds’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative), and in partnership with Unity Enterprise, UNION 105 has been more than two years in the making. Incorporating a flexible space for exhibitions and events, meeting room and artists’ studios, UNION 105 aims to offer one-to-one support as well as a programme of topical events for local artists and creative people.
In the spirit of the unofficial salon exhibitions that followed in the 20th century the ‘Chapeltown Salon’ is an open showcase of work from a broad range of artistic practices in Chapeltown, an area rich in creativity with over 100 artists living in the LS7/LS8 area. Work will be available for sale at a wide range of affordable prices.
The exhibition also will form an inspirational backdrop to a series of events, recalling the ‘theatres of conversation and exchange’ that took place at the original salons where people could meet and have debates about public matters. These events are at the heart of East Street Arts’s plans for UNION 105, to create a space for open discussions to take place, exploring the challenges of contemporary artistic practice and dissemination. The outcomes of these discussions will form part of UNION 105’s ‘Front Room’ programme, starting this month on Wednesday evenings from 6 – 8pm. Anyone interested in shaping future events or with a curiosity about artistic practice is welcome to attend these informal events.
Private view Thursday 18th March
Exhibition continues to 19th April.