History
Twenty years ago the Florence Trust was founded by Patrick Hamilton (1923 -2008). His vision and drive and undoubted charisma made a great impression on successive generations of artists. His continued support for the current direction of the trust was greatly appreciated and he will be missed by all that knew him.
Origins
In the 1970’s and 1980’s the artist Patrick Hamilton worked in a large and beautiful studio in Florence. So large was the studio, that over the years many other artists came to visit and work in the studio along side Patrick. There they found inspiration in the beauty of the surroundings, and the rapport and exchange with other artists working there.
Upon returning to England in the mid 1980’s, Patrick wanted to replicate and extend what he had come to understand was an essential, but often lacking, resource for artists: a place for artists to temporarily take a break from their often solitary practice; where exchange with other artists was productively encouraged; where the surroundings themselves added beauty and inspiration; and where they could draw upon resources that would enhance their own practice, and aid their artistic growth. These principles remain at the heart of the Trust’s work today.
Growth
The Florence Trust was founded in 1988. With the help of two of its first trustees (Ashley Barker of English Heritage, and Peter Burman of The Council for the Care of Churches), a base was found at St. Saviour’s Church in Highbury, and the Trust began operation in 1990.
Since our inception, and the days of artists coming and going irregularly for short three-month stays, the offer to artists has matured dramatically. Key milestones in this development were the appointment in 1992 of Studio Manager Nigel Ellis and the appointing of our first Director in 1998, Rod Mackintosh. During their tenure the trust developed the use of studio space into a programme of annual residencies, with a much greater emphasis on providing not just studio facilities, but also access to people, skills, and resources, which can aid both the artistic and the professional development of each artist. Since implementing this format the Trust has established itself as one of the leading, and most innovative, artist support and development programmes in London.
Over 300 artists have benefited from working or exhibiting at the Trust in its first fifteen years. Major artists, such as Anthony Caro and Paul Rego, have joined as guest exhibitors. Most recently the renowned Pop Artist, Derek Boshier, created a major new installation work specifically at the Trust. We have had artists from Russia, Holland, Germany, Italy, Canada, America, China, and many other countries, come to work at the Trust, and the Trust is keen to expand this international dimension.
Over the years, Florence Trust artists have gone on to many successes: Galleries and collectors that have recently taken up artists include Saatchi (Nisha Duggal), Anita Zabludowicz (Tim Phillips) and Bischoff Weiss (Louise Thomas). Overseas Residencies have been obtained in Denmark (Kalim Yoon) and South Korea (Dylan Stone), artists have gained places, and scholarships, to MA courses at, amongst others, the RCA (Evy Jokhova), and the Royal Academy (Sam Jackson). There have also been solo shows and exhibitions too numerous to mention.
Future
Under the leadership of Director, Paul Bayley (formerly of the Arts Council and the Cornerhouse Gallery in Manchester) and Chair of Trustees, Andy Rothery (of Deloitte), the Trust is embarking on another major period of growth and enhancement. Over the next three years we will significantly improve the facilities, increase and deepen the range of support offered to artists, and strengthen the aspect of international exchange and dialogue. We shall ultimately move towards a system of bursaries for resident artists, and to look towards an additional site to compliment our facilities at St. Saviours.
Through this enhancing of our Bespoke Development Programme, tailored to the personal requirements and objectives of each artist, we intend to keep the Florence Trust at the forefront of supporting and promoting the very best of artists, and their work.
