Sara Bowler : Looe Street Detectives

2 Feb-18 Mar 2018

Overview

Research of the Plymouth Arts Centre site and the people who lived and visited over the centuries. Founded in 1947 in a historic building on Looe Street, Plymouth Arts Centre was one of seven arts centres set up around the country with funds from the newly established Arts Council of Great Britain. Artists who have presented their work at Plymouth Arts Centre include Heather Phillipson, Tim Etchells, Bob and Roberta Smith, Patrick Heron, Tracey Emin, Allen Ginsberg, Tom Raworth, Paula Rego, Peter Greenaway, Ralph Steadman, Gwen John, Jenny Holzer, Vong Phaophanit, Richard Deacon, Andy Goldsworthy, Helen Chadwick, Malcolm LeGrice, Beryl Cook, Douglas Gordon and Sir Terry Frost. Many people exhibited here at the start of their careers and went on to become household names. Previous artistic activity in the building has included a theatre, a pottery studio and a jazz club. Malcolm LeGrice played in the house band here in the 1950s.