Alfred Arcade Launch

Posted: 26/07/2018

‘a space’ arts are delighted to have secured a new venue.

The Alfred Arcade on Old Northam Road will open on 10th August with the launch of Ripe Bananas #01 – the first of a two-part exhibition of outstanding work by a group of recent Fine Art graduates from both Winchester School of Art and Southampton Solent University.

The Alfred Arcade is a unique gallery space with six exhibition/studio spaces, an office, two toilets and a terrace at the back which overlooks the railway. The venue sees ‘a space’ reestablish a presence on Old Northam Road for the first time since 2006 when ‘a space’ moved out of a property at the opposite end of the street, (which was most recently used as HaHa Gallery).

In the past, the street was a busy and bustling place in the heart of the city. It became known as the ‘antiques-quarter’ in the 60s and 70s and attracted visitors from all over the world. In 1988, however, the new dual carriageway and Six Dials interchange was built, leaving Old Northam Road cut off from the rest of the city. Since then, many vendors have gone elsewhere, leaving behind long rows of beautiful Victorian shop fronts with nothing on display.

The upcoming exhibitions are part of a developing programme to test the potential of the Alfred Arcade as an exhibition space. Following the launch of Ripe Bananas #01 at 6pm on Friday 10th August. The gallery will continue to be open to visitors from 11am – 7pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The following exhibition, Ripe Bananas #02 will launch on Friday 7th September from 6pm.