bocs

bocs is a group of fresh young artists, and we’ve opened up shop!

bocs is Charles Yorke, Gethin Wavell Lloyd Jones, Huw Erddyn, Iestyn Owen, James Toms, Meirion Alan Ginsberg, Rhys Lloyd Jones, Sally Kwong, Sevan Garo Nigogosian, Siân Green and Yvonne Tsang.

In fancier language, bocs is a supportive network of young artists encompassing visual arts, music and performance. Their objective is to establish a focal point to act as a catalyst for excellence in young contemporary art.

Currently, bocs is…

…busy looking for new premises.

A bit of background

In 2006 Dafydd Hardy, along with his co-director Richard Thomas, decided to turn the basement of their offices on the castle square into an arts space to showcase for young artists, to counteract the drain of young art graduates from the area by providing a nucleus for exhibition and exchange of ideas.

This new young cooperative represents the core of Oriel Dafydd Hardy past exhibitors/or associates – they are the nascent group of a future art movement in Gwynedd.

bocs in the future

There is no artspace in Gwynedd County that solely facilitates and provides an informal meeting place for the young experimental artist.

We hope that by attaining property in the town centre, we can establish a base for bocs, using the ground floor area as an exhibition space and the upper floors as studio space.
We will re-create the communal/collegiate atmosphere for the creative exchange of ideas, analysis and critique alongside an information area/drop-in centre housing art magazines, reference books and internet access.

Anyone in town can pop in, have a cup of tea, chat to bocs members that are around whilst enjoying the exhibition in the gallery or maybe even an outdoor sculpture yard.

As a Gallery
This gallery will be unique in that it will be the only one in Wales where the programme of exhibitions will be curated by young graduates themselves, namely, members of bocs.
Our aim will be to showcase excellence in local young talent, and bringing in the best of exciting new artists from outside Wales, with emphasis on other Celtic countries. Our exhibitions will be experimental, ground-breaking and thought-provoking.
We’re also excited about the possibility of the new premises having a sculpture yard which will allow for the first time a chance to exhibit in the open-air.

Gallery Staff
It is proposed initially that there will be one part-time arts centre co-ordinator and one part-time community arts co-ordinator who will liaise with members on the exhibition programme and invigilate the gallery.

Longer opening hours may be achieved by one member perhaps being given free studio space in return for regular invigilation duties.

If you’re interested in applying for one of these roles, please click here.

As a Studio
As young graduates, we know very well that on returning home we have to compete for use of the kitchen table when we’re working. Unless we’re lucky, there’s no opportunity for use of a larger studio space. Hopefully, bocs will be able to solve this problem by renting out studio space by the square metre.

It is hoped too that local businesses may sponsor rooms eg. The Na Nog Studio,
The Cofi Roc Gallery, The Dafydd Hardy Sculpture Yard.

Members of the public will be welcome to come along and watch the artists at work and talk to them.

We hope to give encouragement to local school pupils to participate in the arts from an early age, and to see the arts as a viable career option for everyone.

At some stage in it’s future bocs would like to be able to offer an Artist In Residency scheme.

Bocs as Resource Centre

We hope to establish a reference area with books, subscription magazines, internet access and a notice board where the local community can exchange information.

As a group, we can purchase artist materials in bulk at competitive rates and potentially provide easels for communal use, as well as exchanging skills i.e. printing, welding and IT skills.
In collaboration with neighbouring schools and foundation colleges bocs members will hold informal talks and workshops to attract untapped sources of talent from disadvantaged parts of the community

Website

www.bocs.org.uk has been up and running since 2008. It’s aim is to not only to showcase members’ work but also provide constant flow and intermingling of information/links/images.

This helps to create and maintain a community atmosphere amongst young artist whether they remain in the area or have moved away.

The Community

Oriel Dafydd Hardy has become part of the everyday life of people in Caernarfon. Visits to see the latest exhibitions had become part of their shopping routine. Its loss is sorely missed and news of a new home for bocs is anxiously sort on the street.

An even bigger loss is being felt by the school students who would experience their first taste of recognition in the basement gallery, gain encouragement by following older students as they exhibited during and after graduation, plus seek inspiration from the numerous contemporary/experimental exhibitions - from local, national and international sources - over sixty shows in five years.

Bocs will restore the gap left by Oriel Dafydd Hardy. With a ground floor “shop-window” premises they will have far better access to the public - With workshop and studio space their positive effect on the community is boundless.

Investment in this local young visual artists and musicians cooperative will provide an unparalleled opportunity to deliver real benefits to the local economy, the community and give Caernarfon an impressive return on any investment.