A PAIR of local artists will continue their residency at a town studio space for a further three years, following the success of their art space ‘The Stoodio”.
The community-focused art space run by Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris has been welcomed hundreds of people through its doors in the past year.
They offer free and inclusive art activities designed to remove barriers to participation and encourage people of all abilities to reconnect with their creativity.
Their sessions such as a weekly sketch social, have been run out of the ground-floor studio space made available through a partnership between Arthouse Jersey and Andium Homes.
In a statement, they said: “We’re absolutely overjoyed to be extending The Stoodio in this space.
“It was never a one-year project for us, our passion comes from a deep belief in the power of art to bring people together and strengthen community.
“Being given this extension really affirms why spaces like this are needed and we’re incredibly grateful for the trust and support shown to us.
“We’d like to sincerely thank Andium and Arthouse Jersey for believing in the vision and helping us continue to grow something that truly belongs to the community.”
Chief executive of ArtHouse Jersey, Tom Dingle, said: “The impact Hayley and Sophie have made in just one year is remarkable.
“The Stoodio has become a genuinely welcoming, creative and socially valuable space.
‘It’s a brilliant example of what can happen when artists are given time, trust and the right environment to develop something meaningful for their community.
Looking ahead, Hayley and Sophie plan to build on this momentum with an expanded programme of workshops, exhibitions and community-led events.
Alongside their free sessions they plan to grow a “sustainable programme of paid workshops and creative experiences”.
Lindsay Wood, chief executive of Andium Homes, said: “At its heart, this initiative embodies our values of creativity, collaboration and a genuine commitment to our community.
“We’re delighted to support the next phase of this journey and look forward to seeing even more people across the island benefit from Hayley and Sophie’s hard work and passion.”
