The New Arts Exchange is a national culture and arts hub which aims to represent black, Asian and minority ethnic artwork. To celebrate their 10 year anniversary the gallery has launched the ‘Africa State Of Mind’ exhibition…
It is an art and photography exhibition which aims to represent a variety of themes including the struggle for homosexual identity and expression in areas where it is punishable by death such as Sudan and Northern Nigeria. It also includes the subjective renderings of life and identity, revealing Africa as a psychological space as well as a physical territory.
TheĀ exhibition captures the energy of the social transformation of Africa’s largest cities. As the gallery is a celebration of minority art, all it’s 16 artists originate from 11 different countries on the African continent.
The NAE is located on Gregory Boulevard in Hyson Green.Ā Before the NAE opened 10 years ago it was a charity called Art Exchange. After 5 years they teamed up with Apna Arts to build the gallery as we know it today. The building is a huge black cube with windows placed sporadically around the surface.
It has been growing exponentially the last few years and has hosted names such as Tasawar Bashir. Furthermore, in one of their exhibitions called culture cloud, an artist called Sarah Penny got discovered by Grayson Perry and was invited to work with him.
Speaking on the importance of the NAE in the Hyson Green area, Hope Cassie-Sheward, the Marketing and Fundraising assistant said: “As Hyson Green is such a diverse area, we find many groups from African, Caribbean and Asian minorities use the New Arts exchange as a social hub due to its acceptance and celebration of cultural differences.”
The ‘African State of Mind’ exhibit is on until the 16th of December. Find out more details about the event here.
By Harvey Clitheroe