Space for all projects says new director

New Blue Oyster Project Art Space director Jamie Hanton on his first day on Tuesday. Photo by Nigel Benson.

Blue Oyster Project Art Space director Jamie Hanton was already looking right at home on his first day in his new job this week.

"The group of people behind the Blue Oyster have done a great job. I'm just looking to consolidate the gains they've made. I'm not planning on making any dramatic changes. This year is already programmed and I'll just be fine-tuning things and adding value where I can," Mr Hanton (27) said.

"I want to make the Blue Oyster as accessible as possible. Dunedin is an amazing city and you feel the community is right behind the arts here and I want to draw on that.

"But, I also want to draw on the parts of the community that, perhaps, haven't been as involved, traditionally, while still keeping the experimental side," he said.

"The Blue Oyster is in a wonderful position to engage with a broad audience and win new local audiences for art with its programme of innovative contemporary exhibitions. I firmly believe that art should be for everyone and I'm eager to encourage local participation in The Blue Oyster."

Mr Hanton said a healthy arts community needed a non-commercial project art space.

"It's so important to have an innovative, cutting-edge art space. It's important because it's an area of art that's not attacked by market forces. It's a great incubator for art that doesn't have to have a commercial value and be sold or traded as a commodity.

"Although, lots of artists say art is a commodity, whether you like it or not," he chuckles.

A former Art New Zealand arts reviewer, Mr Hanton established The Hype Initiative at Space Gallery, in Christchurch, in 2006 to represent newly graduated artists.

Blue Oyster Arts Trust chair Dr Jonathan Marshall said he would build on the success of the gallery.

"The previous director, Jaenine Parkinson, did a great job in building up the public programmes of the gallery and, with Jamie taking over the reins, we are looking forward to consolidating and expanding these," he said.

"As well as ensuring the Blue Oyster continues to be a place to come and see new art and innovative practice, we want to enhance our reputation for stimulating critical debate, reflection and engagement with the arts among the wider community."

nigel.benson@odt.co.nz