An email message sent out on 17th September reads:
“Dear Art Works Follower,
It is with much sadness and regret that we have to inform you The Art Works Galleries is closing from Thursday 17th September 2009.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support.
Yours sincerely,
The Art Works Galleries
info@theartworksgalleries.com”
Understandably, a lot of people were pretty disturbed and concerned about this. The loss of a major exhibition space in the City is sad news, and many of us were also sorry for the probable loss of the job of one very hard working gallerina, although there were also a whole host of other people working for free, ‘interns’ as they seem to be called nowadays. People working for free never really bodes well, does it?
Thing is, the doors at the premises in Stepney Bank have remained locked, with many people’s art works still inside. No answers to multiple telephone calls and many anxious emails. It seems that whole batches of work by the hard working members of Newcastle Craft Mafia are still in the building, and in addition, many people remain unpaid for work that was apparently sold many months, or even years ago.
Four of these pictures were sold back in April 2007, with no money at all subsequently forthcoming. A block booking of three exhibitions was made back then, the second held in May 2008 a third was going to happen sometime this winter. How much chance do you think there is of getting the money?
In the meantime, it would seem that Matt Forster, who is in some kind of proprietorship position over The Art Works Gallery, either as owner of the building, or of the lease, and certainly the owner of the business, has recently registered a new Limited Company, a mere 10 days before locking the doors at The Art Works. Here’s the entry in the public register:
M J FORSTER GALLERY LIMITED
3 ST. MARYS CHARE
HEXHAM
NORTHUMBERLAND
NE46 1NQ
Company No. 07011432Date of Incorporation: 07/09/2009
Understandably, many local artists are more than bemused by this recent turn of events, and we’re slowly becoming aware of many other artists who also haven’t been paid. Times are hard for everyone, and if The Art Works business has gone into receivership, or there is bankruptcy, a certain amount of sympathy is always going to be extended. It’s not easy running a gallery, after all. But is that what’s happened here?
If you have any further information, please do let us know.
Update #1 2nd October
It would seem that goods have been taken from the building to sell to recover Matt Forster’s debt. The bailiff is Frank Thorburn & Co and goods are being held at Sutherlands Auction House Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2BS. Mail or telephone them on 0191 477 0296 and ask for a declaration form. They won’t be able to sell works of art that you can prove are yours.
The Art Works‘ exhibitors Cassandra Harrison and Catherine from Scatterbox Originals recount their experiences trying to recover their work.
Update #2
Article and this nice photo from today’s Journal, Page 19 in the print copy.
Update #3 Saturday 3rd October
Another nice photo and the story from today’s Journal, with thanks to Cassandra commenting below. Theresa Easton (and others) are urging people who are owed money to go to The Art Fair at The Sage Gateshead and hand Mr Forster our invoices in person. Sounds like a very good idea.
More info as it comes.
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28 Comments
this reminds me, could I have the work back that I left in the number 7 gallery please? you could give it to Amanda and she could pass it on to me.
Antony: my email address is the same as it’s been for a decade, or the contact form on my About page does the same job. Yes, please do make arrangements to collect your portfolio boxes asap, that would be marvelous, but your ‘paint all filled holes’ approach where you instruct others to work for you, simply isn’t going to happen.
When you say “this reminds me”, yes indeed. Matt Forster owes me £230 which it looks unlikely he is going to repay. Many others reading this comments thread are in the same situation, owed money or missing artwork, which might have been sold to pay off his debts to the council. This is their thread, ranking high on google for searches for Matt Forster alone and with his name plus words like theft, debt, bailiff and bankruptcy.
Your time at Number 7 merits a post of its own where you can comment or correct any remaining thoughts any of us might have about missing residency work, the application of group resources, or unpaid rent. Or if you would like to write something from your own point of view, we could link to your own blog, or maybe even host on your behalf. Would that be helpful?
Another update…on the existing string of updates.
I was in the warehouse again today, collecting a brilliant piece of artwork on an artist’s behalf. Egads! The auction is tomorrow and there is still such a lot of artwork in there. I was both surprised and dismayed. I also clocked a few boxes of lovely china dishes and handmade bags that I had seen in the boutique a few months ago. To think…all of this hard work and care going into what?
It has cost me over £400 to repack and collect my glass dresses and I would like to know Matts address so I can send him my invoice. Also every dress was damaged due to careless removal and I will have to spend 26 days minimum to repair them for the next gallery showing, this will cost at least £200.
Matt forster is a slimy slippery bastard and i hope he chokes on his cornflakes. His contact details are:
MJ Forster Gallery
3 St Marys Chare
Hexham
NE46 1NQ
01434 609 309
07545 696 747
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