Quay Arts | Learning Curve Gallery | Saturday 1 November – Wednesday 3 December 2014.

Celebration Event: Thursday 20 November, 4pm - 6pm.

Arts organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have come together to deliver the project ‘Bridging The Solent’, supported by Artswork and The Barbara Saunders Trust.

The project commenced on the Isle of Wight in March 2014 with artist collective Eccleston George, developing and reimagining their ‘Community Cart’ with young people from Clatterford Tuition Centre and The Foyer to produce a touring artwork. They called this first leg 'Switch Up'.

The reformed handcart (renamed C>RT), then doubled as a relay, with groups of young people working with artists to create new artworks that will be added to the cart as a continually developing installation.

On the Isle of Wight, video artist Ricky Tart worked with young people from the IW Youth Offending team, to create digital works that now accompany the installation. On the 21st June, the community vehicle travelled to Portsmouth, accompanied by project leader for the Island leg, Ian Whitmore. Joined by artists Nigel George, Hannah George and young people working from Ryde Foyer, they handed over the C>RT for exhibition at Aspex Gallery where new community groups continued the process of making and displaying.

In August, the work created in Portsmouth was taken in the C>RT to Gallery XwwX in Southampton where young people from No Limits joined in with the growing project.

Now the C>RT has returned home to the Isle of Wight complete with its payload of wonderful creativity.

Congratulations to all the galleries, community groups and artists who have taken part in this amazing project!

bridgingthesolent.wordpress.com