Wow.
Two million pounds and 5 months later and the downstairs space of Modern Art Oxford is transformed!
The Café: Designed by acclaimed British artist Emma Hart, this is more than just a café, it’s an ever-changing immersive installation! An experience! It’s now downstairs in the basement yet you don’t even miss the windows due to the kaleidoscope of colours. Inspired by the artist’s love of the joy and escapism of clubbing and her own devotion to the rave scene the café has glass tabletops that throw pools of colour onto the floor like a disco ball and ‘hands in the air’ chairs that are also seats. Every direction you look is a different perspective and it’s just so, well, fun. Adults will love it and kids probably won’t know what to make of it. A rave, a café, an experience. And utterly joyful.
The Creative Space: Bigger and better. More capacity for workshops, sensory play for the early years and space for creative participation, learning and exploration for families. It feels like there is a real sharp focus is on community and education – this is your museum in your city and it feels like a real celebration of that.
Ground Floor Gallery: The shop moves to the front of the building and this creates gallery space for temporary exhibitions celebrating Oxford’s creative community. Again, the focus on community and exhibitions co-created by artists and local people. The front of the building is now a welcoming space to relax, work and socialise.
Upper Galleries: The Upper Galleries remain a large open space and a wonderful canvas for world-leading contemporary art. The opening exhibition is Belkis Ayón: Sikán Illuminations and we were lucky enough to attend a curator talk about the Cuban artist. I’ve never been to a curator talk before – to be honest I didn’t think that I would understand it, but it really made me appreciate and respond in a totally different way. I think we can all find threads of relevance in stories of other people’s lives. She sounds like such powerful woman!
Everybody’s welcome in the galleries, whatever their age. There are activity sheets and sensory backpacks specially designed to help children explore the space in their own way, and inspire a love of creative learning. Pick them up for free at the welcome desk.
There’s also new additions to the programme such as evening courses and late nights, including late night café openings. See the ‘What’s on’ page for details.
Browse, lounge, work, participate, appreciate, create. This is YOUR space.
