In a bid to encourage exchange beyond the capital, the London commercial gallery Pipeline has initiated a “cultural exchange” programme with the Newcastle non-profit art space Slugtown.
This summer, Pipeline’s artist Conor Rogers will show at Slugtown, while at Pipeline, Slugtown’s artists Rachel Adams and Hilda Kortei will present a joint show. Pipeline "is the first London gallery to commit to a national gallery swap, seeking to promote and foster cross-regional artistic collaborations", according to a press statement.
The founder of Pipeline, Tatiana Cheneviere, says that since opening the gallery in 2022, she has been focused on exhibiting artists based outside of London in the hopes of creating a more nationally inclusive art community. This has developed into partnerships with London residencies, in order to give artists based elsewhere more access to the city. As part of this, Pipeline is also facilitating a studio swap that will run at the same time as the gallery shows. The London-based multidisciplinary artist Leon Scott-Engel will be swapping studios with Manchester-based artist Nicola Ellis.
“The idea for a gallery exchange came from a realisation that movement and footprint is necessary to facilitate proper integration and real change,” Cheneviere says. “The swap fosters more conversation between UK cities, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultural landscapes within the country. This dialogue not only enhances the visibility of regional artists but also strengthens the national art community as a whole, encouraging collaborative creativity and innovation.” She hopes that the exchange will grow to include other galleries and cities nationwide.
At Pipeline, the London-based Kortei and the Glasgow-based Adams will show painting, sculpture and installation that "explore concepts of value and labour". At Slugtown, Rogers will show new works and a site-responsive piece to Shieldfield, the council estate where the gallery is located. “Council estates, domestic spaces, communities that are often misunderstood are placed as a priority in the selected works,” says Rogers, who was born in Sheffield. “I'll be showing betting slips, Rizla paper, drug baggies—items from the everyday, transforming their purpose.”
Rogers is looking forward to exploring a new city and finding new audiences that resonate with the themes in his work. “Everyone is feeling the pressure from the lack of funding and support towards the arts. Our local environments and communities are now feeling the hit of isolation more than ever,” he says. “There's never been a more important time for us to start crossing boundaries.”
• Conor Rogers: Renegade (19 July-3 August 2024), Slugtown, Newcastle upon Tyne; Rachel Adams and Hilda Kortei (12-27 July 2024), Pipeline, London
