Project Space
Temporary Project Space Closure
May 2020
Due to the increased risk from the coronavirus outbreak and to protect the health of our staff, members and visitors, all events in our Project Space and Workshop are suspended until further notice.
It is likely that social distancing will operate in some fashion for many weeks and months to come. Therefore we are working to find strategies that will allow visitors and users to feel safe in the building, once cultural organisations are permitted to reopen. Until then please do keep in touch through our social media channels.
We hope you keep safe and stay well.
Lewisham Arthouse
Purity, Danger, Dirty Re-arranger
5th – 16th December 2019
Zoë Mendelson at Lewisham Arthouse
Private view: 6 December 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Zoë Mendelson’s new work aligns with and critiques diagnostic criteria pathologising space. It also responds to Mary Douglas’ 1966 book on taboo and cleanliness, Purity and Danger. These are dirty archives – works in which schema are established via placement, but what is being stored presents a problem of either cleanliness or possible collapse. This exhibition connects the domestic and clinical, provoking dialogues around consumption, excess and hygiene – located within a configuration of overlapping drawing, animation, painting and objects – a library of potentially pathological elements.
A large wall-drawing, will take the run of the show to complete, a form of sullying and exertion – spatial ‘madness’ in itself – with an emptying and clearing process to follow.
Paradox Amusements
13th – 15th March 2020
Private view 12th March 2020 7 – 9pm
Opens 13th – 15th March 2020 12 – 6pm
In Paradox Amusements Birtles and Metcalfe deal with a day dream. This day dream encompasses extremities of escapism and obsessions with absurd fixations relating to holiday and play. Through performance, painting, photography and sculpture the artists challenge and darken escapist desires. Reoccurring motifs appear like holiday hallucinations. An inflated unicorn appears as an unsettling fluorescent monster, whilst an inflated dress is transformed into a drawing and brought to life by operatic singers. Metcalfe and Birtles unpack the surreal dream through interpretations from their ongoing research into the longing for escapism and performance catharsis.
Project Space
The Project Space is run with the aim of providing affordable exhibition space and a platform for emerging artists, community groups and those who have been unable to find support/space through traditional gallery routes. In doing this we hope to provide a vibrant program of exhibitions for our local community, creating an opportunity for people to enjoy, discuss and engage with contemporary art in an informal and accessible setting. Alongside the program of hire shows we also facilitate larger projects and residencies that focus on our core aims of outreach and community engagement. We are always interested to hear from local artists, curators and community groups with proposals for larger projects or who are interested in forming creative partnerships with the Arthouse.
Lewisham Arthouse is committed to ensuring our Project Space is accessible for anyone to hire. We acknowledge that social barriers may influence participation in, and enjoyment of the arts. In an effort to address this in our local communities, our application process is open to everyone, regardless of age or educational background. We particularly welcome applications from non-white, Black, Asian and minority ethnicity individuals and groups.
Lewisham Arthouse is an artist cooperative and the staffing for the project space is provided by the voluntary work of our membership. We program the space in two six month blocks, from January to June and July to December. Proposals are accepted from 1st September for the following January to June and from 1st April for July to December. Dates are allocated in the order that proposals are received and once the program is fully booked for each 6 month period we close applications. The terms of hire and application form are available on the following links.
View Project Space application form
View Project Space hire terms & Conditions
*The Project Space is now fully booked for January to June 2020. We will be reopening applications on April 1st to find projects for our programme July – December 2020. Proposals will not be considered until after April 1st.*
While applications are still open for July – December 2020, we would like to highlight that dates are subject to change due to the coronavirus pandemic and prioritising cancelled exhibitions. Please bear with us as the situation develops. Moving forwards, we will be working to accommodate exhibition proposals in line with social distancing guidelines recommended by the Government. If you have any questions please contact us at projectspace@lewishamarthouse.org
Hire Fee – rates from October 2018 as follows:
1 week = £250
2 weeks = £400 (making it £200 per week)
3 weeks = £550 (making it £183 per week)
4 weeks = £680 (making it £170 per week)
Pls Note: charities, schools and non profit organisations are entitled to 25% discount.
Send your applications to:
Project Space
Lewisham Arthouse
140 Lewisham Way
London SE14 6PD