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Strange Cargo is managed by a team of practicing artists, and anybody who has ever shown their work in our Gallery will know how much we value being able to offer exhibition space to other practitioners. We are very proud of Georges House Gallery's contribution to the arts across the region. It first opened its doors back in 1997, but it wasn't until the following year that the programme of fortnightly exhibitions began in earnest, with artists from near and far, but mostly near, taking control of the space to curate and present their exhibitions to the masses. In this time over a thousand artists have exhibited there.
The ethos of Georges House has always been to act as an incubation space for artists to experiment with their practice. We allow them to use it in whichever way they need, one of the few provisos being that at the end of the exhibition it can be returned, fit for purpose, in time for the next show to hang the following morning. More than one person has raised their eyebrows at the idea of this fast change-around, and with twenty-plus exhibitions a year it can sound very unwieldy, but the people who show there are professional in their approach and, at the end of the day, the set up works.
Around ten thousand people visit the gallery each year. When artists invigilate their exhibitions, which in hiring the space they are called upon to do, the broad cross-section of people who visit Georges House is revealed to them. The fact that the artist is usually on hand to talk to visitors provides a rare opportunity for people to find out why and how the work is produced. One of the gallery's many strengths is that it doesn't feel exclusive. The easily accessible space encourages large numbers of people to take the opportunity to discover the artists who are currently working in the region. In any one hour the range of different visitors is vast, and can include just about anyone who happens to be passing.
The waiting list for exhibitions is usually between twelve and eighteen months long. Artists wanting to apply are invited to send in images of their work, together with an outline proposal. The team at the gallery will make the selection based on the quality of the artist's work, then arrange a meeting to discuss taking the proposal forward. Only a nominal hire fee is charged for the space, allowing as many artists as possible the chance to get their work shown. Beyond this initial selection, the exhibitors are free to curate their show in whatever way they choose. The ethos of Georges House is to encourage experimentation and professional development.
We deliberately present a varied programme, and during the course of a year this will include a range of styles and approaches. Showcasing quality contemporary art is our goal, but this does not mean we will not consider interesting proposals from people working in a variety of different ways, or very traditional media. It is the passion and integrity of the artwork that is looked for.