THE TOAST COLLECTIVE are a group of portsmouth and hampshire based artists and designers dedicated to producing fresh and exciting artwork for the local community and private businesses. we have held exhibitions in the cascades shopping centre, portsmouth technopole and the university of portsmouth. we have also produced private work to cover the hoarding at cascades while the centre is undergoing redevelopment work and we are currently collaborating with protege management to produce territory mapping for new businesses in hampshire.
The toast collective recently held a month long exhibition in the cascades shopping centre from july to august 2006 which was widely acclaimed and welcomed by the shoppers and visitors to the centre. Many viewers also expressed their delight at the unusual location for the gallery which was displaying artwork predominately by portsmouth based artists. the location of the gallery also made the artwork accessable to the people with mobility problems and parents with pushchairs, as well as those who may have been put off by the eliteism of galleries elsewhere.This is a key strategy in the objective of the toast collective, and we aim to raise awareness of new, exciting and locally produced artwork. In doing so, we also hope to encourage a community spirit amongst the local art community and to encourage those who live and work in the area.
The toast collective ltd is owned in partnership by laura meredith and emily simons, and current members of the collective include ruth martin (PR and marketing officer),lou marshall(designer), ben drudge(logo designer),mike brady(workshop co-ordinator), karl hooper(PR and artist liason),arthur casciaro (art rental manager),ben jackson (website designer),helen blackwell, sue meredith, kristy smith and others who wish to remain anonymous! The toast collective ltd is a not for profit company and any money generated by our company is used to promote art in the local community and to make opportunities available to local artists and designers who need a help up to achieve a proffessional career. our company is run entirely by volunteers and none of our staff (including the owners!) make any money from these projects.
We are currently in the process of organising several art exhibitions in hampshire, including one at the harbour lights independant cinema in ocean village, southampton.
If you live in the hampshire area and would be interested in exhibiting your artwork in a professional gallery space, do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to answer any queries you may have promptly.
If you are a business and would be interested in commissioning artwork from the toast collective or from any of our individual members please contact us here,at www.toastcollective.co.uk or at [email protected].
