The new studio block. Courtesy Wysing Arts Centre

Wysing Arts Centre (WAC) in Cambridge has relaunched itself after a £1.7million refurbishment project.

A special relaunch event took place at the out-of-the-way yet popular centre on Friday January 18, with artist, critic, curator and broadcaster Matthew Colling, highlighting the significance of WAC within an international context.

The centre, which has been closed for 17 months for the work, now offers state-of-the-art facilities to 24 professional artists, and will showcase their work in an improved gallery space for its reopening exhibition.

Wysing has been transformed by architects Hawkins\Brown, with a new block offering nine studio spaces alongside a new media suite and education space for students at school and college.

Artist David Kefford with a piece. Courtesy Wysing Arts Centre

“We have brought to the area buildings that provide a public statement about Wysing Arts Centre’s high ambitions and forward thinking attitude,” commented Jason Martin, associate, Hawkins\Brown.

“Internally we have strived for uncluttered simplicity, generous proportions, maximum day-lighting and beautiful materials – in short an environment conducive to the creative process.”

Applications for the new studio spaces were received from around Europe as well as artists in the UK, and an international panel of critics and curators made the selection.

Artists Nora Maycock and Julie Brenot in the new studios. Courtesy Wysing Arts Centre

A large new reception block hosts café facilities as well as the new gallery and exhibition space, acting as the heart of the new 11-acre site.

Over the reopening weekend, the public are invited not only to the showcase exhibition, which features both traditional media such as sculptural works as well as video, animation, installation and performance works, but also to look around the rest of the new buildings.

Wysing offers much more than just studio space to contemporary artists, encouraging creative risk-taking in a supportive environment, alongside mentoring and professional development support. Emphasis is placed on discussion and debate around new thinking in art practices.

A work by Franko B. Courtesy Wysing Arts Centre

Artists from around the world - USA, Norway, Peru, Japan and Puerto Rico - have all undertaken residencies at WAC recently, with the resultant cross-fertilisation at the core of the Wysing ethos.

Artists currently at Wysing studios include Franko B - known for bleeding during live art performances - and German kinetic sculptor Oliver Hein.

The Open Weekend runs from 12-6pm on Saturday and Sunday, January 18 and 19. The exhibition runs until February 24 2008.

Wysing artists:
Jeremy Andrews
Franko B
Michael Brennand-Wood
Julie Brenot
Elena Cologni
Clare Crouchman
Mark Dixon
Sarah Evans
Abbas Hashemi
Oliver Hein
Katherine Hymers
Nicholas James Juett
Helen Judge
David Kefford
Anne Mie Melis
CJ Mahony
Nora Maycock
Bob Race
Stephen Robinson
Kiki Stickl
Andrew Tanser
Matthew Topham
Chris Wood
Simon Woolham