We bring contemporary and socially-engaged arts opportunities to Gloucester

How GASP works

GAS Projects (GASP!) formed in January 2022, when artist Soozy Roberts and creative producer Hannah Thomson began working together at the Ewe Space in Matson, Gloucester. After working for some time as individuals on projects in Gloucester, we identified a lack of capacity amongst existing organisations in Gloucester to deliver community-engaged visual arts provision.

We decided to join forces to maximise our capacity and support each other to realise more ambitious and sustainable projects for the people of Gloucester, with talent development at the core of our work.

Our first project GASP@EWE ran from January to May 2022, to test-run working as a new organisation. We then incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC), and started to envision how GAS Projects could meet the needs of the community while also growing the contemporary visual art provision in the city.

Our ethos and way of working grew out of that beginning, by identifying a gap or lack of provision that might be missing within a community, and developing an opportunity to creatively work with others to shape that gap.

We work responsively by constantly evaluating what is needed and spending time to hear the voices in the community. Responding in this organic and adaptable way helps us to fully connect with the communities, organisations and individuals that we work with, in order to make Gloucester a more creative and cultural city.

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Our Mission

GAS Projects (Gloucestershire Arts and Social Projects)

GLOUCESTER – Development of Gloucester visual arts scene and local artists

To support young creatives in the city who are just starting out by providing mentoring, development programmes, and paid opportunities to support their journey to careers in the arts.
To create more paid opportunities for Gloucester-based artists to make and exhibit work locally

ARTS – To raise the profile of Gloucester as a thriving city for the contemporary visual arts

To put Gloucester on the map as a centre for contemporary visual arts, increasing opportunities for local and National artists to develop and show their work in the city.
Working towards a collective vision and manifestation of a Nationally significant, contemporary arts “gallery” for Gloucester, with a strong focus on socially-engaged, co-created projects.

SOCIAL - To use contemporary visual art and artists to address issues of social need and inequality

To provide arts events and opportunities to communities and individuals who face barriers to participation, or who would not normally access such opportunities.
To give local people agency in their communities to direct and co-create cultural provision that meets their needs and want

The GASP Team

Soozy Roberts

Artistic Director

Soozy Roberts is a socially-engaged artist and curator who collaborates with communities, objects and environments in an interactive, playful and progressive manner.

Soozy has been working in Matson since 2018 as a creative catalyst with Create Gloucestershire and as a freelance artist/producer.

She is passionate about working with communities and developing arts opportunities in areas where these aren’t so readily available.

Soozy also lectures in Live Art & Participatory Practices at Bath Spa University.

Nadiyaa Jaffer

Arts Assistant

Nadiyaa is a Gloucestershire based Textile Designer and Artist who studied Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors at Bath Spa University. Her Final degree collection was exhibited at New designers and was shortlised for the Sanderson Award 2021. Nadiyaa works as a freelance Textile Designer for a London based design company and also runs a part-time business, designing prints and Luxury silk scarves. Nadiyaa creates an open and diverse place welcome to everyone for our sessions at The Ewe Space.

Hannah Thomson

Lead Creative Producer

Hannah Thomson is a creative producer who works with communities, with a focus on giving a voice to the overlooked or unheard. She currently makes a community podcast, working with residents and school children, as well as organisations and artists from the Matson area. She has created projects with City Voices which explore stories of people who do not usually get represented in the arts and heritage sectors. She has a background in art history and museum and gallery education and her work explores how art and artists can create meaningful change through engagement with communities.

Kazz Hollick

Administration and marketing support

Kazz is an artist and creative producer who loves being involved with a variety of organisations and individuals. Kazz's art practice focuses on sculpture and socially-engaged projects, with a background of music and photography.

Kazz works with Site Festival, and has had varying roles with SVA and Create Gloucestershire, plus community clients and commissions.

kazzhollick.co.uk

GASP! Young Creatives

Young Creatives is a development scheme for 18-30 year olds who live in Gloucester and are starting out or wanting to take steps into creative careers. As our primary focus is on the contemporary visual arts, we welcome visual artists into this group. Our work also includes multidisciplinary arts forms, performance, community engagement, event production, content creation, media and marketing. So we welcome young creatives who want to work in these areas too.

The group meets monthly to discuss their own practice, receive advice and support from us, while connecting with each other. They also have the opportunity to guide our programming to ensure it meets the needs of young people in the city. We offer regular paid opportunities to work alongside us on our projects.

Young Creatives who take part in paid opportunities are given the chance to work with national and local artists to gain experience in event planning, curating, workshop facilitation, community engagement and more!

So far, we've collaborated with the Young Creatives on: