Easy access to Dunedin studio and gallery

28 October 2011
Gallery/Studio 2 is a small gallery and studio space in central Dunedin where disabled people are supported to create artworks, and exhibit and sell their work if they wish.

Gallery/Studio 2 (formerly Studio2) used to be on the ground floor of an historic building at 82 Bond Street in central Dunedin. It has now moved into a new location at 83 Moray Place, close to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Temple Gallery, and more accessible to the public.

The new space meant that Gallery/Studio 2 was able to create its own gallery, which runs like a dealer gallery. The first official exhibition will be in December and feature the work of regular studio artist Tanya Faiva. It will be her first solo show.

“The artists have really had to lift their game,” Manager Bridget Inder explains. “We are near some well-known establishments, and it’s exciting, it’s really raised our profile and expectations are higher. Our old studio was in a back alley and we didn’t exhibit there. Now the public are coming in to view our work because they’re walking around the area and looking at other exhibitions.”

New gallery opens doors

Gallery/Studio 2 artists will have opportunities to exhibit in the new gallery. So too will artists connected to other similar organisations, such as creative spaces Artsenta and Art Space.
There will be opportunities for individual artists not attached to an organisation to participate in exhibitions. However, this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Gallery/Studio 2 has two sessions a day from Monday to Friday: 9.15am to noon and 1pm to 4pm. Bridget works there fulltime and is always present to support artists when the studio is open.

Artists are part of a small group but work on their own individual art projects. Anyone who requires constant one-on-one assistance brings their own support person, who works under the guidance of Bridget.

Bridget herself is an artist and completed a Masters of Fine Arts at the Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Arts in 2010.

Close interaction opportunities

Bridget says Gallery/Studio 2’s new premises are still ‘cosy’. Approximately 35 people use the studio, but numbers are limited to four or five artists per session.

“A small studio with less people allows for plenty of encouragement and attention. We work hard to create a close and supportive environment,” Bridget says.

Artists are encouraged to hold solo exhibitions and to use the studio’s Trade Me site to sell their artwork. There are also several group exhibitions a year. One of these usually takes place during the Dunedin Fringe Festival.

Next year Bridget is planning to work on a project involving performative painting, and the gallery space will be used to exhibit the artwork that comes out of it. “Now that we have our own permanent gallery space, I’m also planning more installation-based projects.”

Bridget describes how Gallery/Studio 2 is funded. “Because of the nature of the space we can’t access long-term funding and we rely entirely on a $5 per session fee for those able to afford it, and grants from charitable trusts.”

It is very grateful to organisations such as the Lotteries Grants Board, Dunedin City Council Community Grants, Otago Southland Presbyterian Synod and Otago Healthcare Trust, which provide grants on a regular basis and enables Gallery/Studio 2 to continue to operate.

For more information, please contact:
Bridget Inder
Manager, Gallery/Studio 2
T: 03 474 5949 E: