Arnolfini 50th Anniversary
"When we opened the Arnolfini, I wanted to put an inscription above the door for people to read as they came in - Enjoy Yourself." Jeremy Rees, Arnolfini founder
Arnolfini was 50 in 2011! We are now celebrating 51 years of presenting the very best in contemporary art in all its forms; visual, performance, music, cinema, sound and literature.
Established by three artists, Jeremy and Annabel Rees, and John Orsborn, Arnolfini began life in 1961 as a gallery above a bookshop on Triangle West in Clifton, moving to its current home on the Harbourside in 1975 and starting the regeneration of the whole area. The name was chosen by Jeremy Rees, after Jan van Eyck's C15th painting The Arnolfini Portrait, which hangs in the National Gallery.
"Arnolfini is one of a handful of the most significant contemporary cultural centres in Europe." Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate
Throughout its history, Arnolfini's founding principles have held true: a strong commitment to excellence and innovation, future-focused and championing new art and new ideas coupled with a drive to make contemporary art accessible for all.
Arnolfini Director Tom Trevor comments, ‘Although Jeremy Rees' inscription never appeared above the door, the spirit remains, in this our 50th anniversary year - we hope you 'enjoy yourself'.
We have produced an illustrated time line of our 50 years which you can download here, plus 50 facts about Arnolfini.
Over the course of the year artist Neil Cummings developed a series of self-portraits of Arnolfini using information from its archive. More..
On the weekend of the 24 Sep we had a celebratory weekend which included a firework text by Cerith Wyn Evans. The week also included a participartory arts project at Hengrove, Bristol - Museo Aero Solar. This flying museum made entirely from recycled plastic bags formed part of the Museum Show Part 1 exhibition. Museum Show Part 2 was the final exhibition in our 50th anniversary year.
'Provocative, experimental and slightly mad with a fine bookshop: Arnolfini is 50' Read more in Bristol Review of books here.
Fireworks Video credit: Jamie Woodley
Museo Aero Solar Video credit: Paul Gilbert
