Vitrine gallery closes due to “political instability” and “effects of Brexit”
Last week, the people of the United Kingdom voted to oust the Conservative Party from power, but the intense political and economic instability during their reign is still claiming victims. The latest institution to admit defeat is the Vitrine Gallery, on July 10th, the art institution announced plans to close its doors due largely to a lack of support for the arts in the wake of Brexit.
Vitrine operates over three sites, two in London and one in Basel, Switzerland. The gallery first opened in 2012 and was built upon an ethos of experimentalism. Allowing a space for new and emerging talent within the art world, Vitrine has been an essential part of London’s art scene for over a decade now. Their gallery spaces in Bermondsey and Basel are housed in transparent buildings, allowing the public to view exhibitions around the clock, not limited by the boundaries of conventional art galleries.
Now, though, Vitrine has affirmed that it can no longer continue to operate, as a result of rising costs, political instability and a lack of support for the creative field. Founding director Alys Williams told The Art Newspaper, “The decision to end this chapter comes with sadness,” explaining, “The challenges facing galleries today are well documented. Specifically the resources and staffing that are required to stay afloat and the growing expectations on mid-sized galleries to compete with much larger operations.”
Seemingly, the Vitrine Gallery struggled to overcome the challenges and costs associated with the running of virtually any business. However, Williams only noted that a lack of arts funding and the rise of economic instability within the UK has been a major influence on the gallery’s decision to close up shop.
“This is a moment of political instability,” Williams said, “and the art world is far from immune to its effects. There are well-documented increases to the cost of living and people are being more careful about the purchases they make.”
The director also noted that the effects of Britain’s political bogeyman, Brexit, has caused a lot of difficulties for businesses, particularly within the creative industry. “The UK is certainly feeling the effects of Brexit and years of under-investment in the arts,” she shared, “This makes creating stability as a business, especially a small creative business with an entrepreneurial model, very challenging indeed.”
There is a glimpse of hope for the various artists supported by Vitrine, as Williams notes that she will continue to keep in-touch with exhibitors, and her dedication to creating an open space for new artists remains unwavering.
