A photograph of an installation in a gallery space. The space has white walls and a double height ceiling with a row of high windows on the left of the image. The installation consists of a group of sculptures including cubed wire grid works containing items such as a large yellow coin and a collection of turquoise paddles. There is a small wall based work on the far wall, which includes an abstract neon pink shape on an off white ground.

Artist-led

Artist-led: Studio KIND

An ongoing series profiling artist-led groups in the South West. This month we are celebrating Studio KIND

Posted

26/02/26

Can you tell us about Studio KIND, who you are and what you're about/what you do.

Studio KIND is an artist-led space in North Devon, currently located in The Corn Store as part of Barnstaple Pannier Market (where we moved to in January 2024). We run a programme of contemporary exhibitions, working with emerging to mid-career artists from across the UK as well as from the South West. We also have an engagement programme that includes outreach projects and community exhibitions, as well as exhibitions by local colleges and secondary schools.

We try to address the many different needs for visual arts and culture locally, because we have such limited options. We work with arts organisations across the South West so that North Devon isn't disconnected from what's happening in the region.

CREDIT

A photograph of an installation in a gallery space. The space is double height and has white walls. There is a row of high windows along one wall to the back of the image. The installation includes several wall based works on the far and right wall, including prints with neon pink shapes and a coffee pot in two halves. In front of that is a large sculpture of a skull, with a flower apparently growing out of it. In the foreground of the image, a plinth holds smaller sculptures, taking the format of abstract shapes with flowers.

CREDIT

A photograph of an installation in a gallery space. The space is double height and has white walls. There is a row of high windows along the left hand wall. The installation includes several paintings installed on the left and far wall. They are by different artists and include a stylized rock and sea scape and figurative works. An open door painted blue is on the right of the image, and sunlight reflected through the windows is making rectangular shapes on the far wall and floor.

CREDIT

Can you tell us why you set up and why an artist-led approach, how Studio KIND is important in the context that you are working in.

We first opened in Braunton at the end of 2020, utilising a mostly empty warehouse/work space that was occupied by a local artist, Richard Gregory. The pandemic had really highlighted how little there was for visual arts in North Devon, with limited travel meaning a lot of the artists locally were cut off from experiencing new exhibitions, and had access to very few exhibiting opportunities. As artists ourselves we wanted to build a community that was nurturing and supportive, but we also wanted a place to be bold - a place to push boundaries and ask hard questions.

We felt we were best placed to know exactly what was needed from a new arts venue because we knew what we had been missing all these years. Much of the initial work to set up the gallery was done in-between lockdowns, and soon after opening officially in December 2020, we went back into lockdown in 2021. Luckily, a local organisation helped us turn all our exhibitions into virtual tours, which helped us build our platform locally for the first few months as well as further afield. We've continued making virtual tours of our exhibitions ever since - it's a great way for people to experience the exhibitions if they aren't able to make it to the space. North Devon is physically quite cut off and it can be isolating, so we try to create a space where people can feel connected to the arts, both locally and across the UK.

CREDIT

A photograph of an installation in a gallery space. The space is double height and has white walls. There is a row of high windows along the far wall. The installation includes several paintings installed on the left, far and right walls. They are by different artists and include abstract and figurative works.

CREDIT

Can you describe what sort of space you run out of and the context of Studio KIND, how you do you operate and how are you funded?

The Corn Store is a unique space just to the side of Barnstaple Pannier Market owned by North Devon Council. We have beautiful natural light, high ceilings, and big arched doors that open up into the market. We're currently a team of six artists, but we work with many more creative freelancers locally who deliver workshops, activities and events to go alongside our exhibition programme. It can be hard to make a living as an artist locally so we try to make as many opportunities as possible for people to pursue and sustain their creative careers. We are currently in our fourth round of Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, but we also rely on the generosity of our community through donations - so if you'd like to donate please do head to our website!

A photograph of a gallery space taken from the outside in a covered market area. The space has three large arched doorways with glass doors. Though the doors, and gallery space with which walls can be seen. There are several paintings on the walls by different artists. The words Studio KIND are etched into the glass above two of the doors.

CREDIT

Can you tell us about what you are currently working on and if you have any projects coming up you’d like to share with our network?

We're really excited because we have just been awarded funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a year-long project called Back To The Market, which will explore historic events surrounding Barnstaple Pannier Market, and how these relate to contemporary issues. Barnstaple High Street is really struggling and we want to think about new ways that people can belong and find a community in the town, as well as celebrate the local businesses that occupy the market. We've just launched an open call for three new artist commissions, which we're really excited about. All the info is on the VASW website (as well as our own).

This Spring we also have a solo exhibition by Nigerian-born London-based artist Tonye Ekine who will be showing paintings, drawings and ceramics from his recent residency in Wakefield. We will then be showing a project we've been developing with WayMakers, who are a local organisation working with neurodiverse members of our community. They have been meeting in the gallery bi-weekly to create artworks around the theme of what's unseen and what we find hard to express, so we're really looking forward to seeing how that work comes together. This summer we will also have our fourth Studio KIND Summer Open, which is our annual showcase of artists from across Devon, and applications for that will be opening really soon!