Forecourt Art Group, Aberdeen’s longest-established art society, have had their plans for their biggest-ever exhibition scuppered by the Academy Shopping Centre‘s refusal to honour their booking.

Earlier this year the committee and members of Forecourt Art Group were elated when they found out that they’d secured partial funding from Aberdeen City Council to run an exhibition of works by their members and invited guests.

After some research they hit on using a vacant shopping unit in the Academy Shopping Centre as a city centre location for the show. After negotiations with Apardion Management Limited, who run the centre, their written booking was accepted. Apardion’s representative confirmed to the group in several telephone conversations that it had been granted the use of the unit for a week in November.

Ian Watt, President of Forecourt said, “The members were excited. 31 of them signed up to take part – which is the most anyone can remember exhibiting at a single show – and they were all busy painting new pictures, and preparing and framing their works to go on sale. We also had contacted potential guest artists – professionals who were keen to support the group and show their works with us. We anticipated there being over 200 works on display during the week.”

Then the group received the devastating news that their booking was not to be honoured. Just five weeks before they were due to move in, Apardion contacted the club to say that landlords of the shopping centre had negotiated a five year lease on three units in the centre and that short term leases, even those previously confirmed, were not to be honoured.

“This was a bombshell. Not only did we outlay money for insurance (which Academy insisted be in place before we submitted the booking form) but we spent hundreds of pounds on refurbishing our exhibition stands” said Ian Watt. “We feel let down by The Academy’s actions. Morally, this was a terrible way to act. We’ve invoiced them for our outlays – and if they don’t pay up we may have to take legal action. Meantime we also have to move and on look for an alternative exhibition space.”

Now the group are left looking again for a premises in which to exhibit. While they’d like that to happen this year, they accept that it may be the spring before they can mount a new show. By that point they’ll have missed the Christmas market that they were targeting with their exhibition.

Can you help? Do you know of a high street shop unit that the club could use? If so please contact Forecourt Art Group via their website: http://www.forecourt.org.uk/contact

The dates for our Summer exhibition 2011 have been announced.  The exhibition will be held at the Peterculter Heritage Hall.

Map

The Forecourt Art Group is a not for profit organisation which organises exhibitions throughout the year for artists living and working in the North East of Scotland.

The Exhibition will showcase original works by a wide variety of artists, including  new members who have not exhibited with is at Peterculter before.

All artwork is available for sale and to take away at the time of purchase. Artists replace sold works on a daily basis, so the exhibition always provides new work throughout the month.

Framed Originals, Unframed Originals, Prints and Art Cards will all be available at a range of prices to suit every pocket..

PETERCULTER HERITAGE HALL

Map

Opening Night: Saturday 30th October 2010

Cheese & Wine Open Evening – 7pm-9pm (Free Admission)

The Exhibition will then be open as follows

Opening Hours

Sunday 31st October,  Saturday 6th November,  and Sunday 7th November 2010  from 11am-6pm.

Saturday 13th November, Sunday 14th November, Saturday 20th November, Sunday  21st November and Saturday 27th November 2010  from 2pm-4pm.

The Forecourt Art Group is a not for profit organisation which organises exhibitions

throughout the year for artists living and working in the North East of Scotland.

The Exhibition will showcase Original Works by 14 artists, including three new members who have not exhibited with is at Peterculter before.

All artwork is available for sale and to take away at the time of purchase. Artists replace sold works on a daily

basis, so the exhibition always provides new work throughout the month.

Framed Originals, Unframed Originals, Prints and Art Cards will all be available

Forecourt’s summer exhibition is now in its final week. But there is still time to grab some great pieces.

It runs from 10am to 4.30pm daily until Saturday 7th August at the Underpass Gallery, Broad Street Aberdeen.

We have over a dozen artists showing both framed and unframed works in Watercolour, Oils, Acrylics, Pen and Ink and Mixed  Media.

All works purchased can be uplifted immediately and these are replaced with fresh pieces, meaning that the exhibition is constantly refreshed.

If you are travelling by car please note that from 2nd August there are restrictions on the Broad Street / Gallowgate / Kirkgate junction.

15 April 2010
Forecourt Fundraising Art Show at RGC
Pupils on the Charities Committee at Robert Gordon’s College have organised an Art Show this weekend, in aid of The ARCHIE Foundation.  The show, entitled ‘Forecourt and Friends’ will feature the work of local artists who are members of Forecourt, as well as paintings by several prominent local professional artists, including Gordonian Eric Auld.

The event will be held in the MacRobert Hall at Gordon’s, Schoolhill, and will be launched with a private view evening on Friday 16 April for around 100 invited guests including the artists.  It will then be open to the public, free of charge, from 10 – 5 on Saturday 17 April, and 10 – 4 on Sunday 18 April.  Over 160 pieces of framed art from around 40 artists will be on show, ranging in price from £25 to £750.

Kenneth Watt (age 15), a member of the Charities Committee at RGC said: “After meeting Peter Hutchison and hearing about the work The ARCHIE Foundation does at the hospital we felt inspired to put on an event to help raise money.  We thought of various options and decided to do something a bit different that would hopefully reach people outside the Gordon’s community.  20% of all sales will go to ARCHIE and we hope that this and catalogue sales will raise a good amount for the hospital.”

Mr Hugh Ouston, Head of College said: “It is great to see Gordon’s getting involved with such a worthy charity.  Last year the College raised over £20,000 for various charities and this is all down to the commitment shown by the pupils on the Charities Committee and the generosity of all who attend the events and donate.  I am sure that this will be another successful event.”

Mr Peter Hutchison, Community Fundraising Manager for The ARCHIE Foundation said: “I am delighted that the charity committee of Robert Gordon’s have taken on this event in aid of The ARCHIE Foundation. They are a very well organised group and I am sure the ‘Forecourt and Friends’ event will be a fantastic success”

PETERCULTER HERITAGE HALL – Map

Opening Night: Friday 2nd April

Cheese & Wine Open Evening – 7pm-9pm (Free Admission)

The Exhibition will then be open for the public during the month of April

Opening Hours

Fridays: 12pm- 6pm Daily

Saturdays & Sundays: 11am- 6pm Daily (with Teas & Homebaking from 2pm-4pm)

Note one exception -  Saturday 17th (which will be open 1pm-6pm)

The Forecourt Art Group is a not for profit organisation which organises exhibitions
throughout the year for artists living and working in the North East of Scotland.

The Exhibition will showcase Original Works by 19 artists. All artwork is available for
sale and to take away at the time of purchase. Artists replace sold works on a daily
basis, so the exhibition always provides new work throughout the month.

Framed Originals, Unframed Originals, Prints and Art Cards will all be available

There is still time to catch the last day of the McMillan Affordable Art show which is on at RGU Faculty of Health Building, Garthdee, Aberdeen  on Fri 11th, Sat 12th, and Sun 13th.

Opening times 1000am -1600hrs

Works from £35 to £450.

The Forecourt Art Group and Tornadee are very happy to present the first Open Exhibition at The Tornadee Community. The group has been displaying work for the pleasure of the residents and their families for a year in the main nursing home.

The Exhibition is open to all and refreshments will be provided. A percentage of all sales is donated to the Tornadee Comfort Fund.

Tornadee Nursing Home
Thursday 3rd December 2009
7-9pm

Map:-

View Tornadee in a larger map

Three further weekends have been added to our winter show.

The exhibition, which  will be open on Saturdays  and Sundays  from 2PM to  4 PM will end on Sunday 13th of December.

The show features and sold works by 24 Locals Artists in watercolours, oils, acrylic, pastel,  pen & ink, with a wide variety of framed and unframed works, all of which are replaced when sold,  so artwork will change on an ongoing basis.

Map:
View Peterculter Heritage Hall in a larger map

The Forecourt Art Group’s annual winter exhibition continues at the Peterculter Heritage Hall.

The exhibition will remain open  each Saturday and Sunday 12- 4pm (with teas and home baking served from 2pm) until closing on Sunday 29th November.

This exhibition  features the broadest range of artists for some time, with 24 exhibitors displaying 72 new works in a variety of media. There will also be a range of unframed works, photographs, prints  and cards.

All works are available for purchase and immediate collection.