Introducing the Market Art Collective

I was delighted to be invited to Hereford’s Buttermarket last Wednesday by Market Art Collective (MAC).

MAC are a group of eight graduates and current MA and BA students) who met at Hereford College of Arts. Despite being students and alumni of the same college their work is highly diverse, exploring a wide range of ideas through a variety of media; from folded fabric to found objects. However, all form a critical re-storying in some way – prompting us to question, and to view the familiar as unknown.

Hereford already has a rich history of creativity, but adding to conversations around arts in the city is hugely relevant to HCA and its graduates. This project is particularly exciting as it creates space for recent graduates to work and exhibit whilst continuing a dialogue with HCA which has the potential to benefit current students.

The space is exciting too, a hidden area in the centre of Hereford about to be transformed. The studios are part of a modernisation project which includes the market and the stalls; for the record, the baklava looks beautiful.

The collective will live above the market proper, in what was (I was told) the Judge’s lodging in 1860. It’s a fascinating space; unique, something hidden that is starting to be repurposed and revealed. This is the start of a conversation and a journey for MAC, too. As the studio work progresses and as the graduates/postgraduate students involved start inhabit the space I hope we’ll continue the conversation, and I will keep posting updates on their progress.

If you’re interested in the collective please email philippajanderson@gmail.com or visit their website at www.hfd-mac.com.

Sarah