Places features

Candice Jacobs, Matt Jamieson, Tom Godfrey

A handful of the original Moot group decided to set up a gallery space, with the hope it would act as a catalyst for the Nottingham art scene.

Tom Godfrey, a Moot director, says the intention was to create a place to bring in outside artists and to give the local art scene a kick-start.

"It was really NOT wanting to be an artist in Nottingham that prompted us to want to create an environment that was more supportive and connected to the national and international art scene."

Tom Godfrey

Ambitions

Moot started life at a factory unit in Sneinton. It wasn't big enough to live up to the group's ambitions and so they appealed for a bigger space to move to.

Glen Crocker from BioCity contacted the group and suggested they move into a former Boots building next door.

They've been in the new building since the end of 2008. It's a huge space and it's still early days in terms of realising its full potential.

Like many fledging art projects Moot are are aided financially by funding grants. Tom says the money will help to transform the building.

"Artists have always been inhabiting buildings that are run down and falling apart, we want to prove that artists are professionals and need professional spaces, we hope to provide that."

Art in Moot Gallery space

He admits it can be a nervous wait to hear about the funding.

"We just want to find out either way. If we get it then great, if we haven't got it we'll work with what we've got. We've been used to running things on a shoestring."

Nottingham Contemporary

You might assume that the arrival of Nottingham Contemporary will overshadow Moot and other smaller art spaces. Tom doesn't think so.

"We're seriously exited about it... it will provide a really strong critical base level for the arts scene in Nottingham and the ambition."

Does he like the building?

"I personally really like it. I like anything that aims to do something that other galleries wouldn't do."

Moot can be found at 1 Thoresby Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. Exhibition opening hours are Thursday - Saturday 12-6pm and 12-4pm on a Sunday. For more information contact mootinfo@gmail.com