Bringing people together
Nancy Acton talks to the new director of the Bermuda Society of Arts Gallery, Peter Lapsley.
Q: When did you take up your new position?
A: I began full-time on November 6.
Q: What is your academic background and previous work experience?
A: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia. My first job was as an account executive with a local marketing company, dealing with clients and helping to put together their marketing plans. I then received a grant from the Bermuda Arts Council to help fund a two-month trip to the Yukon to paint, so I quit my job and lived in a cabin, while I painted and photographed. Upon my return home, I worked as a freelance photographic assistant for a couple of local photographers.
Q: What attracted you to the position of Gallery Director at the Bermuda Society of Arts?
A: I had been a member of the Bermuda Society of Arts for a few years, and I was always interested in what they did and could do for the artists on the Island. I heard about the position through the Society and felt that doing a job surrounded by ever-changing artistic scenery, and getting to help and work with other artists, was an opportunity not be missed. As an artist myself I wanted to make sure that whatever I did was either creative or within the arts field so this was perfect. I also get the chance to initiate change and come up with ideas for an arts organisation - it's great! As a local artist I also know what I always felt was needed, and so can begin to effect necessary change.
Q: What are your responsibilities?
A: As the Gallery Director my responsibilities are fairly extensive. I take care of the everyday running of the gallery itself and its retail shop. I put together and coordinate all aspects of the shows we hold. I coordinate our volunteer programme. I deal with the marketing and promotion of the Gallery. I field questions involving all aspects of the arts. I research opportunities for artists such as funding, overseas exhibitions, workshops and education. I also put together workshops for artists. We have a health plan for artists who are self-employed, which I also administer. So my days are spent doing a range of things. As a charity we have volunteers who help out in the gallery a couple of days a week, but other than that it's just me, although I do report to our board of governors on a monthly basis.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish as Gallery Director?
A: My goal is to make the Society both a dynamic gallery and a resource for Bermuda and the Society's 800 members (of whom half are artists). I am setting up listings for educational opportunities as well as workshops and general information on the arts. I am also trying to put together shows that might challenge our members to explore new ideas or approach their art in another way. I am also scheduling shows that highlight the lesser-known forms of artistic expression here on the Island, such as installation art and digital art.
Q: Do you plan to have the BSoA interact with other galleries?
A: As a small island you can't help but interact with the other art organisations, and I think that's great. We need to work together so that we don't all cover the same ground repeatedly. We also have our own identities and niches that we fill, so there's not the fear of being absorbed that one might have were we elsewhere. As charities, by pooling our resources we also stand a far better chance of receiving donations and support from the community.
Q: What is your overview of Bermuda's art scene?
A: I think it is good. It might not be considered as progressive as other places, but it is a growing community, and the ideas and concepts are emerging.
Q: Is the BSoA membership representative of the art community and society in general?
A: Looking at the cross section of artists in our membership, we have classic landscape artists, video and digital artists, and everyone in between. Our membership crosses all societal boundaries, and all ages, races, religions and sexes. A common love of the arts really does bring people together, which is another reason why my job is worth doing. People have preconceptions about what makes an artist or an art lover, and the people I have seen come through our doors shatter those ideas on a daily basis. So if I can turn more people on to the arts and make people realise its importance to our society and our culture, then I'll be satisfied with what I do.
Q: What are your personal interests in art?
A: I am a painter and photographer. My main love is painting, which I try to do three or four days a week. My medium is acrylic paint, and at the moment I am working on a series of nudes for a show next year. I don't actually have any formal training, except for a beginner's painting course.
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