The importance of the framing

Another busy day of meetings, arrangement of further meetings and other general council business has kept me occupied. My main focus has been Lansdown Hall and Gallery as part of finalising the details of the first phase of the building works which are due to begin in early July.

I met Nick, the architect of the project at the council office to run through some issues raised by users of the building, who have their own particular concerns about how the gallery will be affected.

We then went for a site visit to look at some variations which might suit everybody. I had arranged for us to spend a short time in the gallery, where 'Ganet' had hung their exhibition yesterday. I took this shot from the steps leading up to Bank Gardens, looking through the existing doorway and the stairwell to the gallery beyond.

When I went inside with Nick, Sally W. and her colleague Alan W. were expecting us, so I explained why and how the council are intending to improve the whole building, starting on the ground floor with this gallery. When I explained the specific details, they saw immediately the sense and value in our designs, so we must now hope the other users can appreciate it to.

Sally and Alan are members of Ganet who have hired the gallery for a week, even though they are not from Stroud, as they regard it as one of the best galleries in this part of the county for artists to exhibit their work.


Gloucester Artist's Network (Ganet) is a collective of professional and amateur artists, who live or work in or near Gloucester. Ganet artists work in a wide variety of media, including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and video, with the broad aim of creating a supportive network and raising the profile of the arts in Gloucester. We hold regular meetings to organize group exhibitions and workshops, critique and encourage each other in our practice, discuss issues in the art world, and recommend exhibitions.