This coming weekend, the entire Isle of Wight community are invited to a FREE weekend of 50th birthday celebrations at Quay Arts.
As OnTheWight’s contribution to the celebrations, Simon Perry recently recorded an hour-long tour of the latest exhibition in The West Gallery (listen below).
From 1976 to now
‘The Centre’ is a new mixed-media installation reflecting on 50 years of Quay Arts, blending ephemera, object d’art and artworks with founder and visitor voices.
Running daily until 13th September 2026, ‘The Centre’ reflects upon memorable moments, movements and milestones from Quay Arts’ inception in 1976 to the present day.
Walk round with the curator
Earlier this month Simon met with Alicia French (arts team) and Ian Whitmore (curator) for a tour of the exhibition.
Simon recorded the tour so anyone visiting the exhibition can listen themselves as they walk around the exhibition (don’t forget to take your headphones). (Jump to audio)
Taking the format of a physical timeline, the installation charts the beginnings, growth and ongoing activity at Quay Arts, celebrating key movers, groups, artists, acts and users alike.
Alicia and Ian were able to give further insight into the items on display and why they were chosen to be exhibited or who donated them, as well as talk through the process of curation.
It’s a fascinating listen!
A credit to the team
The exhibition does justice to everyone who has passed through the Quay over the last five decades, from the earliest founders onwards.
The arts team deserve real credit for that.
Listen to the audio tour
The audio tour was around 74 minutes long, so we’ve split it into two parts, each running for 37 minutes.
Use the players below to listen, pause, rewind or skip forward in the recording.
Birthday bash
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August sees a full weekend of activities take place at Quay Arts: from live music to comedy, dance to circus, and more.
There will be something for everyone and it’s all free. Read more.
Visiting
‘The Centre’ runs until Sunday 13th September 2026 in The West Gallery, Quay Arts, 15 Sea Street, Newport PO30 5BD.
Doors open daily from 9am to 4pm.
