Stonepillow, the Aldingbourne Trust and the Apuldram Centre come together for unique exhibition ‘ART of Living’
Oxmarket Contemporary, a registered charity that brings artists and the public together in the heart of Chichester, is pleased to announce, ‘ART of Living’, a unique exhibition that brings together Stonepillow, the Aldingbourne Trust, the Apuldram Centre and Chichester College to celebrate how art supports personal growth, confidence and wellbeing.
The exhibition will run from Tuesday 31 March 2026 to Sunday 12 April 2026 with free entry and will include paintings, mixed media work and collaborative pieces created by participants from each organisation.
Power of creativity
Each charity represented in the exhibition works with different communities, including people experiencing homelessness, adults with learning disabilities and young people with special educational needs. What unites them is the shared belief that creativity offers a powerful way for individuals to express themselves, build skills, connect with others and shape their own journeys. This exhibition highlights the strength, resilience and individuality of every artist, showing how art helps people discover not only their creativity but the deeper art of living.
Extraordinary impact
The exhibition has been made possible by a grant from The Arts Society City of Chichester, The Arts Society Lavant Valley and The Arts Society Chichester.
“As a community space in the heart of Chichester, we are proud to host an exhibition that showcases the extraordinary impact these charities have on people’s lives in our 50th anniversary year.The purpose behind our £50,000 for 50 years fundraising campaign is to ensure that we can make the gallery available for exactly these sorts of groups in future. We look forward to inspiring, supporting and championing how access to art can assist wellbeing” said Jo Shapiro, Gallery Manager, Oxmarket Contemporary.
The anniversary fundraising initiative underpins Oxmarket’s ambitions to remain a free-to-access cultural space while expanding support for artists, schools and community programmes.
Donations can be made online at https://www.oxmarket.org/donations-1. You can also support the gallery by becoming a Friend https://www.oxmarket.org/becomeafriend
About Oxmarket Contemporary
Established as a charity in 1976, the gallery has a deep connection to the local culture and history. The building, a medieval deconsecrated church, has been in use since the 13th century and after considerable bomb damage in World War II, was restored in 1976 to become the first gallery and centre of arts in Chichester. The charity has a vibrant volunteer community involved in many aspects of its operations, providing opportunities for social connections, skills development and community engagement.
Chichester’s cultural hub
The charity plays a vital role in Chichester, serving as a cultural hub that enriches the local arts ecosystem and contributes to the overall well-being of the community. It provides free access to art to over 30,000 visitors a year, enabling residents and visitors to Chichester to view and appreciate a wide variety of work including painting, print, sculpture, textiles, jewellery and ceramics from many artists each year. The charity’s aim is to break down barriers to access and enjoyment of art, encouraging visitors from a wide range of groups and ages. 2026 is the 50th anniversary year of Oxmarket Contemporary.
