ONCA Gallery, the UKās only public gallery dedicated to exhibiting work that raises awareness of climate change and conservation issues launch aĀ Kickstarter campaign.
ONCA the only inner-city art gallery raising issues of climate change and biodiversity loss, could close without public support.
Despite successes, the ONCA Gallery will close if it does not reach its Ā£15,000 fundraising target, with crowdsourcing website Kickstarter. The deadline for the campaign is the, April 27, at 1pm.
To donate, CLICK HERE:
Laura Coleman, ONCAās Director, says:Ā “It is important for a city such as Brighton, with the UKās first Green Party administration, to champion and support this gallery with a conscience.
“Historically, environmental art has been a movement often stigmatised. Today, with rarely a week going by without a new symptom of climate change being revealed, the possibilities of this type of art to communicate feeling and action are fast being realised, as it becomes an important social driver of environmental awareness.”
Trees take centre stage in the galleryās immediate priorities. 100 is an open submission exhibition this summer for visual artists working in all mediums. The brief is simple, represent a tree in any way you choose. There is one restriction ā the dimensions must fit within 20cm cubed. For each artwork a tree will be planted in central Brighton, creating an artistic forest within the gallery and a real forest outside. In time this forest will become a space for workshops and performances, building on this opportunity for new and established artists and nurturing talent for future generations.
ONCA opened in Brighton, part of the cityās London Road regeneration scheme, in November 2012. The gallery presents contemporary art exhibitions with accompanying programmes of performance and education. Since their launch ONCA have spearheaded over 12 exhibitions and have worked with artists from Margaret Atwood and Charming Baker to emerging poets, storytellers and school children. The summer programme of exhibitions and events is themed around home and habitat.
Organisations they have partnered with include Birdlife International, Cape Farewell, the Sussex Wildlife Trust, Arts Council England, the Marine Conservation Society and many more. Their patrons include Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and writer Robert Macfarlane.
Laura Coleman founded ONCA after working for three years with animals rescued from illegal trade in Bolivia. She sees the gallery āquickly becoming a hub for key conversations about environmental change, as art plays a powerful role in the engagement and education of younger generations. ONCA offers a space where creativity has the potential to inspire belief in positive action, and ultimately help to forge an environmentally aware, integrated and active society.
Caroline Lucas says: āIām very proud that Brighton is home to ONCA. The arts have a vital role to play in encouraging more people to care for our environment, and to take action to defend it. At a time of increasing environmental destruction, we need to reach the hearts and minds of as many people as we can with a positive message that urgent change is possible and desirable. ONCA shows how that can be done.ā
The ONCA Gallery ā home of The ONCA Trust ā is an inner-city hub for art, ecology and education. Unique in the UK, ONCA runs exhibitions, workshops and performances that ask questions, tell stories and initiate conversations about environmental change, whilst raising awareness for frontline conservation projects.
For more information, CLICK HERE:Ā
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