One of the founding members of what is now known as Quay Arts, Anne Lewington, is hosting an exhibition at the Newport gallery more than 40 years after it first opened its doors.
Quay Arts, now known for a full array of everything arty and more, was originally known as the Porter Store. It was used as a bonded warehouse by Mew Langton’s Brewery where Island-brewed beers were stored on the ground floor, and spirits stored on the first. In 1884, the Rope Store, adjacent to the main building, was built by Robert Croucher.
Over the years the Newport Quay area remained busy but in the 1960s, with a full ferry service to and from the mainland and the improved road network, the railways closed and Newport Quay went quiet. Mew Langton’s sold The Porter Store to Strong of Romsey, who sold it on to Whitbread in 1969.
In the early 1970s artist Anne Lewington staged an exhibition at Ventnor Library. Anne explained that although a good venue, the art was placed above the books, high up and difficult to see. A real art venue for the Island was needed and her hunt was on. In 1975 Anne stumbled upon the now abandoned Newport Quay warehouse and thought it would make a perfect venue for an arts centre for the island. A steering committee was formed in 1976 and they met for the first time in Calverts Hotel in Quay Street. Many Island artists were involved as well as representatives from the Isle of Wight Council and the-then Island MP Steve Ross.
The name chosen to form a company limited by guarantee was the Isle of Wight Visual Arts Centre and membership was just £5 per year
Soon after Anne met Christine West, a patron of the arts, who was keen to help raise funds for the Arts Centre and offered to hold an event at her home, The Garland, Bembridge. A second fundraiser, an art auction hosted by Mike and Christine West, raised £4,000.
In 1976, the Isle of Wight Council bought the warehouse building from Whitbread and leased it back to the Isle of Wight Visual Arts Centre for a peppercorn rent of just £10 a year for 28 years.
Work began on the building to make it safe. The ground floor was cleared of rubbish and abandoned fruit machines, to make way for works of art by friends and members of Quay Arts, along with 6 workers from Manpower Services Commission. With a first exhibition entitled ‘The Left Bank Show’- a one-day event where local artists were invited to bring and sell their work- the new arts centre was off to a flying start.
Over the years many exhibitions have taken place, monies have been raised, staff have come and gone but the now, Quay Arts, continues to provide an excellent venue for everything art on the Island.
One of the current exhibitions is by Anne herself and she is planning a talk on the 5th August at 11:00. This is the last day of the exhibition. For more details of this see the Quay Arts website, https://www.quayarts.org/events/.
