How art is thriving in Lancaster’s oldest community hub

Exhibiting art in Lancaster

- Buying local art in Lancaster

As well as being a visual artist and designer in Lancaster, I'm also a volunteer at The Gregson Centre, a local Arts and Community Centre just a 5 minute walk from the town centre of Lancaster.

I'm really keen to encourage more people to embrace their creativity and encourage them to exhibit their work no matter their experience or background. As a creative person, with even a small body of work, you may think to yourself, "How do I get my artwork into an exhibition" or 'how do I exhibit my own art?" It can seem a daunting thing if you've never embarked on anything like this before, but just reach out and we will help, giving advice and tips.

This role has enabled me to nurture local artists and creatives and help facilitate monthly exhibitions with artists who are from all kinds of backgrounds, both grass roots level and also those more established with many years experience behind them. We are a very unique community centre here, and that community spirit is at the absolute core of what the centre stands for, it’s such a welcoming and inclusive place. We don’t have any set criteria for exhibiting, as long as it’s family friendly and not offensive!

Artists from the Lancaster and Morecambe area are keen to exhibit their work and offer their artwork and paintings for sale locally, but often don't know how to go about doing it, thats where I hope The Gregson and myself can help.

We have had such a different type of exhibitor each month, including wood crafts, willow weaving, photographers, college groups and Chinese calligraphers. I’ve assisted artists exhibiting here that have never shown their work publicly before and have had successful exhibitions which has helped their confidence and encouraged them to progress their art journeys further.

The centre has a good contribution from female artists too and that in itself is something to nurture and encourage. Females are very underrepresented in the creative sector overall, but the diversity and support of our community centre make it a really unique go to place to set great foundations on your artistic journey. We’ve all been there, wondering how to actually get our art out of the studio/living rooms/spare rooms and show it to a wider audience, so being able to assist and help artists realise their talents and potential is a really satisfying thing to do. I absolutely love my volunteer role here, it really does bring a lot of joy!

As a centre, the Gregson really encourage their exhibiting artists to have an art social evening, a very informal ‘meet the artist’ gathering, usually accompanied by the centre’s weekly jazz session, in which the musicians jamming form a very relaxing and entertaining ambience to the event.

The art socials are a great way to meet the exhibitors and chat about their work. We turn to art for a variety of reasons, whether as a creator or a viewer, but the one thing art does is connect us, it can be a great conversation starter! Art and creativity is a conductor of our emotions and also forms a very personal interaction too.

The popularity of the centre as a go to place for exhibiting artists is growing from strength to strength and the waiting list stands testament to this and the commitment from the centres staff and volunteers. The waiting list to exhibit is getting longer. Our next available slot is March 2026, I hope I’m still here in this role then, because i just love it.

How do I submit my art to an exhibition?

Please contact myself through the centre, and we can take it from there and get you booked in! Don't be shy, I'm often there in some capacity either as a volunteer, or just enjoying a coffee and the locally baked cakes!

Visit the website here www.gregson.co.uk

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Art Deco at 100

by Lidia Ranns • 17 February 2025

As an artist, I'm constantly searching for inspiration, a spark to ignite my creativity. And as we continue into 2025, the centenary of Art Deco, I find myself reflecting on how this style has influenced my own work. I've always been drawn to the bold lines, geometric shapes, and luxurious details of this iconic movement, but it's not just a nostalgic fascination. Art Deco has influenced my own practice, both as a graphic designer by breaking down visual communication in the simplest of ways, and as an artist particularly with my use of flat colour in my 'Bygone Days' series. For those unfamiliar, Art Deco emerged in the 1920s, a reaction against the perceived excesses of Art Nouveau. It was a celebration of modernity, technology, and optimism, reflecting the rapid advancements of the era. Think of the Chrysler Building's iconic spire, the glamorous travel posters, or the sleek curves of a Bugatti – all typical examples of Art Deco's distinctive style. So what is it about Art Deco that captivates me? And how does it translate into my flat colour art? The Power of Simplicity and Boldness Art Deco embraces simplification. While intricate details exist, they are often grounded in strong geometric forms and clean lines. This resonates deeply with my own design philosophy. I strive to break subjects down to their essential shapes and forms, using flat, unmodulated colours to create striking visual statements. Art Deco taught me that boldness doesn't necessarily require complexity. A Celebration of Colour Art Deco was anything but shy with its colour palette. From the rich jewel tones of emerald green and sapphire blue to the luxurious golds and silvers, the movement embraced vibrant hues to evoke a sense of luxury and sophistication. This has influenced my own colour choices immensely. I'm drawn to palettes that are both bold and harmonious, using colour to define shapes, create depth, and evoke specific moods. The Allure of Optimism and Progress Beyond its visual aesthetic, Art Deco embodied a spirit of optimism and progress in an era of innovation and a belief in a brighter future. This optimistic outlook is something I strive to inject into my own work. I want my art to evoke a sense of joy, possibility, and a connection to something larger than ourselves. The clean lines and vibrant colours of Art Deco serve as a reminder of the enduring power of hope. 2025 and Beyond I'm excited to see how this iconic movement will be celebrated and reinterpreted. For me, it's an opportunity to deepen my understanding of its influence and continue to explore its principles in my own practice, with both my art and my design work. It's a timeless source of inspiration. Its bold aesthetic, continues to resonate with artists and designers today. I'm excited to continue exploring the ways in which Art Deco can inspire and inform my art, allowing me to create work that is both visually striking and deeply meaningful in my own unique style.