Studio2 / The Margaret Freeman Gallery take art into the community

2015 was a great year for Studio2/the Margaret Freeman Gallery. Our art space is firmly established in the centre of town. But rather than keep artwork within the confines of the gallery we branched out. We felt strongly that everyone should have access to art. We have focused on getting our artists' work into the community where everyone can enjoy it. Art adds vibrancy to local communities.

'On the Buses', the entry from Studio2, was judged runner-up in the best film and visual art section of the 2015 Dunedin Fringe Festival. Our exhibition involved digitally reproducing Studio2 artists' work on the back of city passenger buses for the duration of the Fringe Festival.

Studio2 artists, with assistance from Studio2 programme facilitators and volunteers painted two Chorus Boxes. We now have three shop fronts around Dunedin that we use for pop up window exhibitions. We conducted a survey of the people in the vicinity of the South Dunedin shop window and we delighted with the responses we got. People much preferred to see Studio2 artists work in the windows to the empty shop. Our artists also enjoyed seeing their work exhibited in the community in places where everyone can see it.

We hosted numerous exhibitions, including openings, to which the artists' family and friends were invited. And to top off a great year, Studio2 artist Andrew Keogh was a regional finalist in the 2015 IHC Art Awards.