This is an audio recording of the How to Explore text for the exhibition Barbara Walker: Being Here at Arnolfini, 8 March - 25 May 2025.

How to Explore: Being Here

Woven into the fabric of Bristol since 1961, Arnolfini is an international centre of interdisciplinary contemporary arts, presenting an ambitious, diverse programme of visual art, performance, dance, film, and music, designed to appeal to a broad audience.

Housed in a prominent Grade II listed, accessible building on the city’s harbourside, Arnolfini is a pioneering, inspiring public space for arts and learning, offering an innovative, inclusive, and engaging experience for all.

A world-renowned institution, throughout its history Arnolfini’s programme has welcomed artists from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, supporting and developing their work, investigating their influences and aspirations.

Arnolfini nurtures long-standing relationships with a wide range of community and creative partners, while continuing to explore and develop new opportunities across the city and beyond.

Through sharing a 60-year archive of exhibition slides, publications, and an extensive artist book collection Arnolfini celebrate the heritage and wide-reaching impact the organisation has had throughout its history.

Since 2019, Director Gary Topp and team have sought to honour Arnolfini’s founder Jeremy Rees’ principle to ‘Enjoy Yourself’; welcoming everyone into the space, and inviting engagement with the wide-ranging programme, in any number of ways.

Arnolfini is an independent charity (CIO) and part of the University of the West of England, Bristol, supported by Arts Council England and the Ashley Clinton Barker-Mills Trust.

Arts

Woven into the fabric of Bristol since 1961, Arnolfini is an international centre of interdisciplinary contemporary arts, presenting an ambitious, diverse programme of visual art, performance, dance, film, and music, designed to appeal to a broad audience. Housed in a prominent Grade II listed, accessible building on the city’s harbourside, Arnolfini is a pioneering, inspiring public space for arts and learning, offering an innovative, inclusive, and engaging experience for all. A world-renowned institution, throughout its history Arnolfini’s programme has welcomed artists from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, supporting and developing their work, investigating their influences and aspirations. Arnolfini nurtures long-standing relationships with a wide range of community and creative partners, while continuing to explore and develop new opportunities across the city and beyond. Through sharing a 60-year archive of exhibition slides, publications, and an extensive artist book collection Arnolfini celebrate the heritage and wide-reaching impact the organisation has had throughout its history. Since 2019, Director Gary Topp and team have sought to honour Arnolfini’s founder Jeremy Rees’ principle to ‘Enjoy Yourself’; welcoming everyone into the space, and inviting engagement with the wide-ranging programme, in any number of ways. Arnolfini is an independent charity (CIO) and part of the University of the West of England, Bristol, supported by Arts Council England and the Ashley Clinton Barker-Mills Trust.

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How to Explore: Being Here

How to Explore: Being Here