Artist-led: ZEST
An ongoing series profiling artist-led initiatives and groups in the South West. This month we are celebrating ZEST.
Can you tell us about Zest, who you are and what do you do?
ZEST Collective is a grassroots CIC of 25 artists based in Southampton. We deliver a programme of artist-led exhibitions, workshops and large-scale creative projects in the city. We exist to benefit the local artist community and to foster creativity in local communities and build lasting relationships with them.
ZEST also runs a free network for artists with a connection to Southampton, called ZING (ZEST Inclusive Networking Group), which is home to over 85 artists, who benefit from a programme of socials, artist-led workshops, field trips and exhibition opportunities.
Can you tell us why you set up Zest and why it is important in the context that you are working in?
We formed in 2020 out of a desire to create a community of artists that support each other’s practices and to create our own opportunities, at a time where chances to make and exhibit artworks are becoming increasingly few and far between. Our founding artists were graduates of Ripe, a graduate scheme run by ‘a space’ arts.
Every member of ZEST is a practicing artist and every decision we make is shaped by the collective. Artists produce our grassroots arts programme and host our artist’s network, meaning that our offer is tailored to what artists actually need and want in the city.
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?
Our next ZEST exhibition Buffet launches on the 14th November at our studio spaces. The exhibition will be free to view over that weekend and will showcase ZEST artists’ recent work.
‘a space’ arts’ Winter Makers Market, featuring artists and makers from across the region will be hosted across both God’s House Tower and our studios on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th of December.
We have also recently launched a new, creative club for children and young people called ‘Art Waves’ offering affordable creative workshops including printmaking, clay, and painting.
Can you describe what sort of space you run out of / the context of where you run your space/project from and how you operate / are funded?
We operate from ZEST Studios in the old town of Southampton, located in a 600-year-old, council-owned building called Tower House. We are neighbours to God’s House Tower, an arts and heritage venue run by ‘a space’ arts.
We recently launched a window gallery space called ‘Niche Gallery’ on Town Quay Road where we will be showcasing experimental contemporary art produced by or in collaboration with ZEST.
ZEST runs primarily on a voluntary basis but we have had several Arts Council England funded projects based around supporting local artists and communities and celebrating creativity in Southampton.
