The Vallum Gallery - Institute of the Arts

About

The official page for the modern gallery space in the city of Carlisle, located in the main building of the Institute of Arts at The University of Cumbria.

Story

The Vallum Gallery is a newly opened exhibition space, surrounded by the creative community of students and staff at The University of Cumbria's Institute of the Arts campus in the city of Carlisle. Open to the general public, all exhibitions are free and carefully selected to provide a unique and memorable gallery-going experience.

With its modern aesthetics, clean lines and ample natural and artificial light, the Vallum Gallery provides an ideal environment for both traditional 2D and 3D shows and flexibility to accommodate new media exhibitions.

Private view events, musical and dramatic performances and artist talks and book launches are all activities that complement the rolling exhibitions programme.

Housed in the modern Main Building of the Institute of the Arts, part of the University of Cumbria, the gallery builds upon a creative tradition in the city of Carlisle that has a history dating back to the founding in 1822 of a Society for the promotion of the Fine Arts.

This flexible new gallery space, installed during 2015, can present exhibitions in a traditional format with wall panels for 2D work and glass cabinets and plinths for 3D work, plus can accommodate digital format work on high definition screens or via projection.

Impressum

University of Cumbria Vallum Ditch Gallery Mission Statement:

The Vallum Ditch Gallery is committed to the enrichment of the cultural experience of our students, staff, alumni and the wider community, through the provision of a creative and accessible gallery programme which is interdisciplinary, collaborative, diverse and engaging.

The Vallum Ditch Gallery Aims and Objectives are to:

• Present a diverse creative programme of work, which is interdisciplinary and of local, national and international significance.
• Celebrate the talent and expertise of University of Cumbria staff via the exhibition of their artwork and research outputs.
• Collaborate with the wider artistic community across the county of Cumbria and foster links with individual practitioners and partnerships with creative organisations.
• Show a diverse spectrum of work, from both established artists and emerging new talent, with equality of opportunity.
• Work closely with students, utilizing the gallery and its activities a resource - providing a professional showcase for their work, developing their professional practice through engagement with practitioners, industry and employers and generally enhancing the student experience.
• Encourage cross-disciplinary artistic collaboration between University departments.
• Ensure that exhibitions and activities are as accessible as possible to widen our audience participation, through inclusive programming, outreach and marketing activities.
• Foster links with aspiring artists, through interaction with local schools and colleges and engagement with widening participation initiatives.
• Play an important part in building the University of Cumbria Institute of the Art’s national and international reputation as a dynamic educational, cultural and research institution.
• Engage with external funders to ensure the growth and development of gallery activities, to include the Arts Council England, Local Councils and project funding from Trust

"Opened by globally acclaimed artist and former student Conrad Atkinson, our Vallum Gallery is home to a number of in-house and external exhibitions each year.In 2019, the Gallery and its Degree Show, which showcases the final work of our BA Hons students every year, were also Finalists for Art or Cultural Initiative of the Year at the Carlisle Living Award."

"Opened by globally acclaimed artist and former student Conrad Atkinson, our Vallum Gallery is home to a number of in-house and external exhibitions each year.In 2019, the Gallery and its Degree Show, which showcases the final work of our BA Hons students every year, were also Finalists for Art or Cultural Initiative of the Year at the Carlisle Living Award."