Our Heritage
The Isle of Wight’s leading art gallery and venue for live arts events
The Quay Arts Centre is situated in a converted 19th-Century brewery warehouse complex at the head of the River Medina in the centre of Newport.
Refurbished in 1997 by award winning architect Tony Fretton, our facilities include two galleries, a 134-seat theatre, a unique gift shop and our popular Café Bar which has a reputation for serving some of the best home-cooked food on the Island. Business conferencing facilities are also available, and the Centre is licensed for weddings and civil partnerships.
Quay Arts is a registered charity, supported by donations from people like you.
The Quay Arts story
Newport Quay was once a bustling, noisy place lined by warehouses where barges carried goods up and down the River Medina. There was a sliding railway bridge over the river (where the dual carriageway is today) that opened so the barges could unload their cargo on the quay or leave for the mainland on the tide.
The current Quay Arts building was originally known as the Porter Store and was used as a bonded warehouse by Mew Langton Brewery. Island-brewed beers were stored on the ground floor, and spirits stored on the first floor and in 1884, the Rope Store was built by Robert Croucher.
In the 1960’s, following the success of ferries to and from the mainland and the improved road network, the railways closed and Newport Quay went quiet. Mew Langton sold The Porter Store to Strong of Romsey, who sold it on to Whitbread in 1969.
A fortunate discovery
In 1975, Anne Lewington stumbled upon the now abandoned warehouse and thought it would make a perfect venue for an arts centre for the island. A steering committee was formed in 1976 and they met for the first time in Calverts Hotel in Quay Street. Many island artists were involved as well as representatives from the Isle of Wight Council and the Island MP Steve Ross. And so, the Isle of Wight Visual Arts Centre was formed, with a membership of just £5 per year.
The arrival of the Wests
Anne Lewington met Christine West, a patron of the arts, who was keen to help raise funds for the Arts Centre. The first event was held at the West’s home in Bembridge and a second fundraiser, an art auction hosted by Mike and Christine West, raised £4,000. In 1976, the Isle of Wight Council bought the warehouse building from Whitbread and leased it back to the Isle of Wight Visual Arts Centre for a peppercorn rent of just £10 a year for 28 years.
Work began to make the building safe. The ground floor was cleared of rubbish and abandoned fruit machines, to make way for works of art by friends and members of Quay Arts, along with six workers from Manpower Services Commission. The first exhibition was The Left Bank Show, which was a one-day event where local artists were invited to turn up and sell their work.
Recent history
In 1982, the Quay Arts Centre was officially named by Sir Hugh Casson and the Michael West Gallery was named in honour of Sir Michael West who had helped to raise funds for the centre. A bequest of paintings was also received from the Basil Green estate.
In 1987, Quay Arts appointed its first full-time paid director, general administrator and part-time exhibitions organiser. However, there were financial pressures and major problems with flooding resulting in the centre being run once more by volunteers. The Basil Green bequest was sold raising around £27,000.
In 1991, a funding agreement was reached enabling the appointment of Anne Toms as Director. Quay Arts was successful in obtaining a grant from the Arts Council England’s National Lottery Board for over £1 million to redevelop the Centre in 1996. Work soon started on expanding and upgrading the building led by award-winning architect, Tony Fretton.
In February 1997, Quay Arts was reopened with the new Michael West Gallery, Café Bar, Craft Shop and the new Rope Store Gallery. Anthony Minghella officially opened the theatre in his name on 13 December 1997.
In 1999, the Learning Curve Gallery was opened to act as an exhibition space for schools and community groups.
In July 2000, the first programme of workshops started at Jubilee Stores. These would soon include pottery, painting, printing, jewellery and textiles. In July 2010, a Heritage Lottery-funded project titled ‘The West Collection – A Quay Vision’ took place and the Michael West Gallery was renamed the ‘West Gallery’ due to the discovery of Christine West’s major involvement with Quay Arts in the 1970’s.
In July 2016, the Learning Curve Gallery was renamed to the ‘Clayden Gallery’ to commemorate long-time supporter of Quay Arts and Island artist, Jenny Clayden.
Beautiful galleries showing excellent work
The Centre’s gallery spaces and Café wall show a varied, engaging and regularly changing programme of visual arts sourced from artists on the Island, mainland and internationally. Quay Arts is committed to creating opportunities for local and regional artists and we hope our spaces both inspire and allow creativity to flourish. The Clayden Gallery is also available to hire by visual artists, schools and community groups looking to showcase their art and sell new work.
Check out our current exhibitions here
Intimate live venues with an outstanding programme of events
The superbly equipped theatre at Quay Arts, (named after Island-born Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella) is one of the best venues on the island to see live performances. An outstanding programme of events offers theatre, comedy, music, dance, children’s entertainment and literature. The popular Café Bar also doubles as a live venue where you can see established and emerging artists while enjoying a drink from our well-stocked bar.
Check out our current events here
Studios for working artists and workshops
Across the river from Quay Arts is Jubilee Stores, home to passionate, professional artists working in a huge range of media including jewellery, pottery, printmaking, textiles, sculpture and painting. The artists are happy to accept commissions, although please arrange an appointment to discuss your requirements.
Jubilee Stores also hosts many of the workshops and courses on offer at Quay Arts. It’s the ideal place to learn new skills, hone old ones and make new friendships with like-minded people.