an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts is proud to present this years’ winter members’ exhibition Lustre. This exhibition is a little different to the recent members’ shows in that they are showing 3D work submitted from our many and varied members. Lustre will run till the 18th December 2011 10 – 4 pm every day.

Next March An tallas solais are exhibiting a wall based Members’ Exhibition in Eden Court in Inverness.

Market Street Collective – The Shop selling quality local Art and Craft

The Market Street collective has also opened its doors this month; a new collective group of artists and crafts people will be selling their work, and the work of other local artists from Room Two of an talla solais. Painting, jewellery, weaving, print making, felt and more all hand made locally. Open till the18th of December 10 – 4 pm.

The Market Street Collective is independent of An talla solais (ATS) and has been invited to use one of the rooms at An talla solais to promote and sell their own work, and that of other artists in the highlands. The winter opening will test the waters, in the hope that the arrangement will continue in 2012 and beyond.

In the current economic climate ATS is keen to support artists and makers trying to make a living from their work. Supporting the Collective is a practical way of doing this, in addition to continuing to put on exhibitions such as the current Members’ Show, Lustre.

A huge benefit for ATS from the Collective’s presence is that they will be able to extend opening hours from the traditional 3-hour afternoon to a full day. This is because the members of the Collective will ‘sit’ for the ATS exhibitions, a job done until now by volunteers. The longer hours will mean that more people will be able to come to see the shows.

ATS hope the presence of the Collective will also appeal to a new range of people, enabling a wider group to be introduced to the exhibitions and activities of ATS. In return for use of the room, the Collective will be contribute 10% of their takings from sales to the running costs of ATS. This is a welcome new source of funds. ATS currently has no core funding and every contribution towards our running costs makes a real difference to us, especially in this climate of reduced funding for the arts.

Finally, as a result of no longer sitting, our volunteers will be freed to help us with the other things that ATS really want to do. There will be plenty of opportunities to be involved in other aspects of ATS, particularly through helping with busy exhibitions programme throughout the year. More volunteers are always welcome, contact Charlotte Watters on charlotte@antallasolais.org let us know if you’d like to be involved.

We wish the Collective well with their venture.