The Gallow Gate is a project space curated by Natalia Palombo at Many Studios and provides a platform for the development, presentation, and discussion of contemporary visual art and culture. Projects consider access to creative and cultural activity, expectations within arts practice and the misrepresentation of non-western cultures in the UK.
The programme seeks to create new audiences to address socio-political and cultural prejudice prevalent in the majority of UK creative institutions. Through exhibitions, international residencies, seminars, screenings, workshops and live events, the programme will continue to question social commentary within the arts sector, and wider society in the UK, sometimes responding to several all-encompassing concepts including postmodernism, postcolonialism, globalization and migration.
Since opening in March 2016, The Gallow Gate has experimented with methodology by introducing play and participation to the programme to build accessibility to creative practice with our local context. The programme has been designed to challenge what people expect from creative practice, and to try to break down barriers of access and elitism within the sector. We’ve done this largely by producing cross-arts projects with live and participatory elements, inviting audiences into the process of making rather than focusing on ‘final/completed work’.
Between 2016 – 2019 we have engaged 60 artists from Scotland, England, Peru, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Pakistan, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, India, The Gambia and Iran. Some of our residencies sit within existing programmes including Connect ZA (South Africa), Making More Art Happen (Zimbabwe), Stories, Stones and Bones (Heritage Lottery Fund), Fak’ugesi Digital Arts Festival.
In 2019, we were inviting to co-curate a major exhibition as part of the13th Bienal de La Havana, presenting new work by Ayo Akinwande and existing work by Athi-Patra Ruga, in conversation with one another for the first time.
You can find out more about Natalia’s practice at www.nataliapalombo.co.uk,
Many Studios is a creative hub in the east end of Glasgow, providing workspace to over 50 creative practitioners, and hosting an arts programme at The Gallow Gate, meeting and event spaces and emerging creative businesses.