As part of the group Taf and Cleddau Community Arts we started holding exhibitions in Bloomfield Community Centre in 1987 and then in the annexe of The Queens Hall from 1989. Lynne Crompton was tireless in her work as curator at this time. When The Hall was developed in 1994 we used the top floor to show exhibitions, and improved the lighting and the walls to create a suitable gallery space. Becau
se of the success and growing popularity of The Queens Hall, there was an increasing demand to rent the gallery as a room for other activities such as singing workshops etc, This caused a conflict as the public access to view the Exhibitions was severely restricted, and a decision was made to attempt to ring fence the Gallery for at least 3 days. The only way The Queens Hall could allow this was to charge the rent they would have received from other bookings, and so Friends of The Queens Hall Gallery was set up to raise the money, approximately £4,500 per annum. A committee was elected, and we now have approximately 200 members who pay a subscription The Friends hold an annual auction to raise the rent money and also to make improvements to the gallery, such as new laminate flooring, better lighting, and walls totally clad in boards to make hanging easier. Over 200 monthly Exhibitions have been held in The Gallery since the refurbishment, many well respected and well known artists from all over Wales, and some from Ireland, the latest being Brendan Stuart Burns. In 2004 the Arts Council of Wales made Oriel Q a revenue client, securing the future of the gallery and paying Lynne Crompton a salary (it had been done on a volunteer basis up until then). Unfortunately, with changes in the Arts Council’s strategy and its relationship with the Welsh Assembly this came to an end this year 2018 and Lynne had to apply for lottery funding, which for 2019 was unsuccessful. unfortunately we could not afford rent whilst in lockdown so we managed to secure a new gallery space in 2020 at 11 Market Street. Although now only volunteer run , there is a great team ensuring Artists a space to solo exhibit alongside a small area dedicated to the work of sitter members. We hope to secure the sustainability of a not for profit gallery for the whole of West Wales, where Art and Art language and discussion , promotion of Artists , their work and workshops can flourish. Oriel Q is a one of the best contemporary galleries in Wales and welcomes your support.
