West Ox Arts: Yesterday and Today
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The West Oxfordshire Arts Association was born in 1973 - the brainchild of John Birkhead of Filkins, who taught at Radley College, and his wife Margaret Ralston, herself an artist of some reputation.
An art exhibition organized by Alvescot College the previous year demonstrated that the neglected upper room of Bampton Town Hall had the possibility of being a local centre for exhibitions and arts events. John Birkhead was undergoing treatment in London and used the time travelling up and down to map out what form the society might take. By the end of May 1973, the newly formed WOAA (as it then was) had negotiated a lease for three years from Bampton Parish Council and staged its first exhibition of paintings. |
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The success of the 1970s
WOAA’s first decade was a period of tremendous vitality. From the first it was intended that it would be the focus of a wide range of artistic activity, encompassing literature, drama, music, film and photography as well as art. There was a central organizing committee, initially chaired by John Birkhead, and panels were set up to oversee each of the different activities, for which they were also to be financially responsible. Money was always tight but Southern Arts did contribute towards capital expenditure and Bampton PC was generous with the terms of the lease. As well as the AGM there was a Supper and Dance for members in the first couple of years. The Events Calendar for May-July 1976 lists the following:
- Rich and Rare Crafts Exhibition (organized by Libby Calvert)
- Book discussion of The Balkan Trilogy
- A photographic ramble, a drama workshop and a poetry reading
- An evening of cartoon films and of films made by students
- Young American Artists exhibition of collage
- Paintings and drawings by Paul Cress
- An exhibition by Kyle Hanton of the University of Montana of Kites and Aerial Sculpture
Encouraging young people
As well as providing exhibition facilities and an outlet for members’ work, WOAA intended to extend cultural activity as widely as possible in West Oxfordshire. Working with children played an important part in this - several of the first members had been teachers themselves and many of the younger members had school-age children.
In the early years, Charles Mussett led children’s holiday painting classes, Brian Winston published a summer holiday children’s newspaper, there was a children’s music workshop led by Southern Arts’ Musician in Residence, the Literature panel ran a number of poetry competitions for adults and children, and the Art panel ran a Christmas card design competition. There was even an educational trip to London culminating in a visit to a children’s theatre.
The range of activities and events which were offered is remarkable, especially since all those running them were volunteers and there was no paid administrative or secretarial assistance. On the other hand, there was obviously a lot of goodwill towards the association and local (and not so local) professionals and celebrities pitched in as well. The 1974 children’s writing competition, for example, was judged by Douglas Hurd MP (who lived at Holwell) and Roald Dahl, and prizes were sponsored by Barclays and Lloyds Bank, Blackwells, and J.A. Pye’s of Oxford.
In the early years, Charles Mussett led children’s holiday painting classes, Brian Winston published a summer holiday children’s newspaper, there was a children’s music workshop led by Southern Arts’ Musician in Residence, the Literature panel ran a number of poetry competitions for adults and children, and the Art panel ran a Christmas card design competition. There was even an educational trip to London culminating in a visit to a children’s theatre.
The range of activities and events which were offered is remarkable, especially since all those running them were volunteers and there was no paid administrative or secretarial assistance. On the other hand, there was obviously a lot of goodwill towards the association and local (and not so local) professionals and celebrities pitched in as well. The 1974 children’s writing competition, for example, was judged by Douglas Hurd MP (who lived at Holwell) and Roald Dahl, and prizes were sponsored by Barclays and Lloyds Bank, Blackwells, and J.A. Pye’s of Oxford.
The second decade
With Charles Mussett as chairman, WOAA carried forward the momentum of the early years into the 1980s. One particularly successful series of exhibitions which attracted much attention in the local press were the Rich and Rare craft exhibitions curated by Libby Calvert. Exhibits were chosen with great care that they should be of the highest quality - thus avoiding any dismissal of them as mere rural handicraft! Certainly they seem to have been a hit with Peter Palumbo, then Chairman of the Arts Council, who visited the gallery in 1989 and spent (so the press report tells us) £2000!
The professionalism of these craft exhibitions seems to have had its counterpart in the organization of the art exhibitions of the early ‘80s too.The Members’ Exhibition for 1980 attracted 138 entries which The Oxford Times recorded as being of “a very satisfactory standard”, but it is also clear from the review that the effect was somewhat crowded. That may be the reason why a second “Syndicate Members” exhibition was organized in the same year for those who saw themselves as rather more professional and wished to exhibit in rather more select company!
It is also interesting to see that WOAA went out and about with plein air painting sessions for members and an open air display and demonstration at the (then) new Cotswold Wildlife Park.
The professionalism of these craft exhibitions seems to have had its counterpart in the organization of the art exhibitions of the early ‘80s too.The Members’ Exhibition for 1980 attracted 138 entries which The Oxford Times recorded as being of “a very satisfactory standard”, but it is also clear from the review that the effect was somewhat crowded. That may be the reason why a second “Syndicate Members” exhibition was organized in the same year for those who saw themselves as rather more professional and wished to exhibit in rather more select company!
It is also interesting to see that WOAA went out and about with plein air painting sessions for members and an open air display and demonstration at the (then) new Cotswold Wildlife Park.
West Ox Arts today
Today the focus of West Ox Arts Gallery is the visual arts. Hosting around 12 exhibitions per year, the Gallery is able to promote the talents of a staggering number of artists from Oxfordshire and beyond. In addition to exhibitions, we strive to offer workshops and art talks led by the artists it helps promote.
With our 50th anniversary year taking place in 2023, broadening our outreach to communities is one of the major goals WOA will focus on as it moves forward in the 21st Century. An appreciation for art starts at a very early age; recognizing this and understanding that today’s young people are the key to our continued success, West Ox Arts is also committed to developing an outreach programme targeted on enhancing the access students have to an education in the visual arts, by providing in-classroom visits by professional artists and inviting students to visit the gallery where they will be encouraged to contemplate and discuss the exhibitions on display. We believe it takes art to raise a village.
Our community connections have extended in other ways, with our local partnership with Kelmscott Manor, home of William Morris. Our artist members took part in a series of days where they had exclusive access to the newly reopened Manor following it repair and conservation, creating works of art that culminated in a joint exhibition.
We look forward to the next 50 years as West Ox Arts as we enter into this next exciting phase of reaching out to the community and providing a platform to support artists across the region.
With our 50th anniversary year taking place in 2023, broadening our outreach to communities is one of the major goals WOA will focus on as it moves forward in the 21st Century. An appreciation for art starts at a very early age; recognizing this and understanding that today’s young people are the key to our continued success, West Ox Arts is also committed to developing an outreach programme targeted on enhancing the access students have to an education in the visual arts, by providing in-classroom visits by professional artists and inviting students to visit the gallery where they will be encouraged to contemplate and discuss the exhibitions on display. We believe it takes art to raise a village.
Our community connections have extended in other ways, with our local partnership with Kelmscott Manor, home of William Morris. Our artist members took part in a series of days where they had exclusive access to the newly reopened Manor following it repair and conservation, creating works of art that culminated in a joint exhibition.
We look forward to the next 50 years as West Ox Arts as we enter into this next exciting phase of reaching out to the community and providing a platform to support artists across the region.