About
Visual Arts South West is a sector support organisation. Our mission is to advocate for people in the visual arts to enable the sector in South West England to thrive.
Our vision is one of justice, inclusion, success, and celebration for all across the visual arts.
Join us as we make it real.
Core aims
Increased recognition of the value of the visual arts
- We promote organisations and artists with ourWhat's On, Directory and Opportunities.
- Our newsletter reaches thousands in the region and beyond,sign up now
- With CVAN we campaign for national support and recognition of visual arts
Development of a sustainable, supportive, resilient, and inter-connected sector
- We bring together Associate Programmes to strengthen their role. We run events and initiatives to understand local issues and connect people
- We analyse the needs of art workers and organisations and evidence this to drive continued and considered investment
- We support the visual arts community to manage financial risk and precarious work conditions
To tackle structural and systemic issues in the sector we created Together We Will and are working to ensure the visual arts sector commits to upholding intersectional practice. We approach this work knowing we will never finish learning to be better.
Working Nationally
We are based at Spike Island in Bristol, as part of their National Portfolio Organisation funded by Arts Council England. We are an independent organisation connected to the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN).
CVAN is a national consortium of artists, arts professionals and arts organisations in England. Whilst every regional CVAN organisation has their own particular focus and identity, the purpose of the network is to connect people working in the visual arts, alongside professionals in other fields around the world, in order to share information, ideas and resources.
As part of CVAN, we work collectively to realise a stronger, more resilient visual arts sector for artists, arts organisations, and audiences. CVAN advocates for our regional arts institutions, spaces, and artists - working towards a sustainable future for all.
Subscribe to our newsletter for up to date information about our current work and plans.
Our In-house Team
Paula Orrell
Paula Orrell is the lead for Visual Arts South West and Director of CVAN England. Her experience includes the relaunch of the Centre of Contemporary Art Art Toi Moroki, Christchurch, New Zealand. She spent her early career developing the visual arts in Plymouth, and has worked for Arts Council England. Paula is a leading advocate in the sector and Co-Chair of the Coventry Biennial.
Hannah Rose
Hannah Rose is a Plymouth based artist, curator and producer. She established and is Curator of MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth, and has played a key role in advocating for and supporting the development of visual arts in the city and region through her varied roles, including as one half of the artist duo LOW PROFILE.
Lucy Badrocke
Lucy is a curator and producer from Bristol. Working independently, she leads a commission programme that brings together artists, residents, and community partners to create new work through collaboration and exchange. Lucy was previously curator at Arnolfini, and has held positions at Picture This, Media Art Bath and Situations.
Jasmine Thompson
Jasmine is an illustrator, mural artist and designer based in Bristol. She is passionate about sector change, and advocating for marginalised artists and communities. Jasmine has installed murals with Royal Shakespeare Company, Bristol Museum and Barbican. She is a resident at the Pervasive Media Studio and is a board member at Rising Arts Agency.
Steering Group
Helen Cammock
Woodrow Kernohan
Abbi Bayliss
Robert Leckie
Yasmin Joan Qureshi
Photo: @shamphat
Amanda Lynch
Melanie Stidolph
Erika Cann
Laura Hopes
Rocca Holly-Nambi
Georgia Newman
Janine Boyer
Your VASW
