Situated in the heart of Bampton, in the Market Square, is a building erected in 1838 to offer ground floor space to a market hall, with the town’s main assembly hall on the first floor. Although many of the towns in the local area had prosperous markets, Bampton’s market failed to attract many merchants and became a ‘white elephant.’ However, by 1870 the east end of the hall became garaging for the horse drawn fire engine, whilst the west end was converted initially into a subscription reading room in 1884, becoming a public lending library in 1891. Part of the ground floor continued to accommodate the local fire engine until the fire service moved to New Street in 1970. Then, following an extensive programme of refurbishment work, in 1973, the ground floor of the building became home to the Parish Council, with the upper floor let to the West Oxfordshire Arts Association.
The West Oxfordshire Arts Association was the brain child of a former master at Radley College, John Birkhead who lived in Filkins, and whose wife was an artist of some reputation. An art exhibition organised by Alvescot College in 1972 demonstrated that the neglected upper floor of Bampton Town Hall could become a local centre for exhibitions and art events. By the end of May 1973, the newly formed WOAA (as it then was now known as West Ox Art) had negotiated a lease for three years from Bampton Parish Council and staged its first exhibition of paintings.
With its tall round headed windows on three elevations, the first floor which houses the Gallery, provides the most stunning location in which to display a wide range of visually exciting creative work. Not only is the room flooded with natural light, but its high ceiling provides sufficient wall space for a range of paintings, prints and photographic work to be displayed. The lower cupboards are where pieces of skilfully cast ceramics, textiles, metalware and pictures are delightfully arranged. There is also a permanent gallery shop selling smaller items including jewellery, textiles and art cards – all of which make excellent gifts.
The first floor Gallery is easily accessible as, in addition to the main staircase, there is a permanent ramp and lift. Parking can be found in and around the Market Square.
Some fifty-one years on, the focus of West Ox Arts Gallery is the visual arts. Hosting around 12 free to visit exhibitions per year, the Gallery is able to promote the talents of a staggering number of artists from Oxfordshire and beyond. In addition to exhibitions, they strive to offer workshops and art talks led by the artists they help to promote. Membership of WOA is inclusive and affordable, providing everyone, both professional and amateur who have creative skills whatever their art, craft or skill level is, with an opportunity to participate. You can become a member without having any actual skills, merely a love of supporting an art venue to help promote creativity in West Oxfordshire. (To find out more about membership, visit westoxarts.com/become-a-member.
Over the months of July through to September, WOA will be holding a Members’ exhibition: ‘Arts & Crafts 2024’ runs from 15 June until 13 July and features a stunning array of artworks by WOA members and friends, encompassing a diverse range of mediums. From paintings, sculptures, ceramics and glass work, jewellery, textiles, woodwork and wirework, the exhibition offers a vibrant exploration of artistic expression. At the start of each year, there is a New Work exhibition displaying member’s work which has not previously been displayed at the Gallery. There will be a Group Exhibition featuring the work of artists attending a local oil painting class in August and a Ceramic/Photographic Exhibition in September.
Between exhibitions, WOA put on Workshop Weeks covering a wide range of creative skills from life drawing to Gelli printing, origami, learning to crochet, using watercolour pencils effectively and mixed media projects. The workshops are held at WOA Gallery in Bampton and are open to members and non-members. All workshops are run by an experienced tutor. Further information can be found at westoxarts.com/workshops-and-events.
WOA also embraces encouraging appreciation of arts in children and young people, as they recognise that today’s young artists are the key to their continued long term success. Their outreach programme is targeted on enhancing the access students have to an education in the visual arts, by providing in-classroom visits by professional artists and inviting students to visit the Gallery where they will be encouraged to discuss the merits or otherwise of the exhibitions on display. They have recently created the position of Young Ambassador to the Gallery. The Ambassadors have free annual membership and can show case their work by exhibiting and selling their work. Their current Ambassador is 18 year old George Hallmark who brings much energy and enthusiasm to the Gallery, creating new ideas and a fresh approach. As the scheme develops, further opportunities are planned to offer positions to more committed students of art in the West Oxfordshire area.
The Gallery’s community connections have also developed a local partnership with the home of William Morris as Kelmscott Manor. A number of WOA’s members took part in an inspirational series of days where they had exclusive access to the Manor, creating works of art that culminated in a joint exhibition. These unique events for members continue during 2024 with ‘In the Style of William Morris’ being held at Kelmscott on the 30 July, from 10.30am until 3.30pm. Members will have the chance to learn more about the patterns and designs of William Morris, interpreting his designs using a range of resources. They will be able to create a personal design from ideas formulated during the day.
Members can also come along to regular monthly art and chat meetings are held on a Thursday evening at the Double Red Duke in Clanfield and Thursday mornings at the Coffee House in Bampton. Other projects that members can get involved in are monthly Artist Days which this year have been run by Anita Joice and have taken place exploring the source of the Thames and recording the artists’ finds in sketchbooks and are held at various locations. On 18 July, there will be a visit to Chimney Meadow entitled ‘Biodiversity’ followed by ‘Pilgrimage – Port Meadow’ on 12 September and ‘Confluence – Christchurch Meadow’ on 3 October.
As West Ox Arts is a volunteer led members organisation, without whom they would not be able to provide the services they offer, if you are interested in becoming both a member and a volunteer, and you have time to spare, please email them at gallery@westoxarts.com.
