Canterbury Oast Trust (COT), a local charity that provides accommodation, life skills and work opportunities for adults with a learning disability, is making use of the Red Door art gallery, in Cinque Ports Street, to hold an exhibition of students work called Art at the Farm, over the last two weeks in March.
The Trust was founded in the mid 1980s by a group of pioneering parents, and now has homes and day services across Kent and East Sussex, including the Mariners Tea Rooms in the High Street. Among the life-skills training offered is art and craft, taught by professional artists, and, on the evidence of this display, well taught across a wide range of media including print making, textiles and ceramics.
The proper exhibition space, small and perfectly formed, as the saying goes, meant that the student artists were able to see their work professionally presented, pictures framed, ceramics on tables to show them off to their best advantage, in a commercial gallery in a busy little town.
The organisers were delighted with the results of the show, with good sales and a welcome opportunity to advertise the wonderful work of COT.
Art at the Farm is based in a traditional Kent Oast House at the Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm in Woodchurch, Kent, just outside Ashford. The proceeds of the purchases at the Red Door go directly to support the work of the Charity and there is an interesting website that describes the large range of COT work and accredited training.
The Red Door itself offers the opportunity to hire the gallery and put on individual exhibitions. It means the hirer has the use of the quirky exhibition space, and versatile display and hanging options. It holds exhibitions for two or four weeks and is now taking bookings for 2020. The forthcoming exhibitions are advertised on the website and the space is now very busy.
Image Credits: Art at the Farm , Gillian Roder .