A new art gallery is coming to Salisbury’s city centre

A new art space is set to open on Salisbury’s High Street this September.

The Vanner Gallery is dedicated to showcasing contemporary works of fine art and craft objects and will be Salisbury’s first gallery to use guest curators for the exhibition programme.

Committed to exhibiting original artworks, the gallery showcases the best of contemporary art and craft practice across a range of materials and media. A programme of exhibitions featuring works for sale from regional, national and international artists and makers is organised by guest curators throughout the year.

Gallery Director, David Christie said, “I’m excited to bring Salisbury’s new gallery to life and to invest in the city’s post-pandemic regeneration. There is a large discerning audience here and a lot of people come to the area to enjoy art at the established venues we already have.

“We want to complement that vibrant scene by adding a commercial contemporary gallery which gives people the chance to acquire fine art and craft, as well as experiencing a unique programme of curated exhibitions.”

The opening exhibition, which will run from 17th September – 24th December, is titled ‘Connect: people, art and place’.

In this inaugural exhibition, curator Prudence Maltby explores the concept of connection at a time when the city emerges from adversity. Following the Novichok attacks in 2018 and more recently the pandemic, Maltby uses people, art and place as the cornerstone to examine how we process our experience of living separate lives through uncertainty.

The show includes contemporary art and made objects across a variety of mediums, unified by the exhibition theme.

Commenting on the exhibition, Prudence Maltby said, “It’s about art giving shape to cultural change. In the selection process, I was mindful of beginning my search with a local focus, and then connecting with artists and makers beyond. The challenge was always going to be about putting a seemingly eclectic body of work together in one space, and stimulating synergy and dialogue between the included pieces.

“The twenty artists represented in this exhibition are either known to me professionally or I know about the work they make”.

Exhibiting Artists: Julia ATKINSON, Julie AYTON, Eleanor BARTLETT, Brian BISHOP, Lucinda BURGESS, Henny BURNETT, Fran DONOVAN, Ruth DRESMAN, Susan FRANCIS, Mirka GOLDEN-HANN, Michelle GRIFFITHS, Patrick HALLISSEY, Alex HANNA, Julia POLONSKI, Jane PONSFORD, Peter RANDALL-PAGE, Roger STEVENS, Joanna STILL, Anita TAYLOR, Julieann WORRALL HOOD.