12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY & FOUNDERS’ LEAVING CELEBRATION
12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY & FOUNDERS’ LEAVING CELEBRATION
1st July 2023 | 6 – 11pm
Block 336 is gearing up to celebrate its 12th anniversary and bid farewell to its founders, as Jane Hayes-Greenwood, Executive Director, and Xabier Basterra, Chair of the Board, will step down from their respective positions on 30th June 2023.
To mark this special moment and celebrate the team’s achievements over the last 12 years, we will host a party on Saturday 1st July from 6-11 pm, alongside Songs for an After Life, an exhibition of recent audio-visual work by studio artist, Robert Bell.
Block 336 was founded in 2011 by Jane and Xabier, who were joined shortly after by Alex Gough and Robert Bell. Together, they nurtured Block 336 into an artist-led project space and studio provider, consistently expanding its ambitions and reach over the years. In January 2013, Block 336 became a registered charity limited by guarantee, leading to the appointment of Jane as Executive Director and Xabier as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Over 12 years, Block 336 has become a supportive and creative platform for an extraordinary and diverse community of artists to bring their most ambitious and bold projects to life. Under Jane’s Directorship, the gallery has held over 40 exhibitions, supporting over 170 artists, and creating unique opportunities for artists to experiment and expand their practice. The team have also worked with local organisations focused on disability, mental health, and young people; hosting collaborative educational projects and events for their staff, service users and the general public. Block 336 has partnered with, amongst others, Artquest, Black Cultural Archives, International Curators Forum, Black Thrive, Brixton Inclusive, Carers’ Hub Lambeth, Certitude, Creative Future, Lambeth College, Lambeth & Southwark Mind and the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
The Board of Trustees wants to congratulate artists Jane, Alex, Rob and Xabier for Block’s achievements over the last 12 years and expresses its deepest gratitude to both Jane and Xabier for creating such a vital and admired artist-led space that has, under their care, become a beacon of high quality and engaging exhibitions and community programming.
Image: Alex Gough, Robert Bell, Jane Hayes Greenwood and Xabier Basterra, 2017, celebrating Block 336’s 5 year anniversary in front of a painting by Robin Mason.
Announcing Bolanle Tajudeen as Block 336’s New Chair
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Bolanle Tajudeen will take on the role of Chair. Bolanle is a curator and founder of Black Blossoms School of Art and Culture that has partnered with prestigious cultural institutions, including Art on the Underground, Tate, and the Photographer’s Gallery. Black Blossoms aims to ensure that Black and artists of colour are remembered in the public consciousness and are given the recognition they deserve. With her passionate commitment to uplifting and amplifying the voices of Black women and non-binary artists, Bolanle Tajudeen has significantly impacted the contemporary art world. Her drive to make lasting change in the sector aligns with Block 336, upholding that supporting artists is crucial for developing the art ecosystem, which relies on recognising and valuing artists’ work for its growth and sustainability.
The Board of Trustees will continue to work with Alex Gough and Robert Bell to ensure a long-term sustainable model for Block 336, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to artists and local partnerships. We look forward to announcing our plans and programme for 2024 and beyond. In the meantime, Block 336 is delighted to be partnering with ICF on the 2023 programme.
Comments
Jane Hayes Greenwood
“I could never have dreamed what Block 336 would become when we started cleaning up an under-used basement in 2011. It has been an absolute privilege to work so closely with Xabier, Rob and Alex over the last 12 years; collaborate with exceptional artists who shared their vision with us and created truly outstanding and special artworks, and meet so many incredible people.
I would like to sincerely thank Adrian and the team at We Are 336 who supported us from day one. I would also like to thank all of our trustees who have been an integral part of the journey; everyone that has worked with us over the years; our audiences who have been so loyal and shown continued support to us; and, of course, the funders who have enabled us to do what we do. I very much look forward to seeing what Block 336 will do next.”
Xabier Basterra
“Working with Jane, Alex, and Rob over the years has been an incredible privilege. Block 336 has always been about artists collaborating and working together with other artists, and your generosity, care and commitment have made Block 336 the special place it has become. Thanks to you, and to the work of our artists, partners, trustees, and so many people that have helped us over the years, Block 336 was granted a truly exceptional opportunity to connect with and involve the vibrant communities of Brixton and beyond, and serve as a catalyst for positive change. I would like to wish all the best to the Block 336 family as they enter this new chapter, and make a special acknowledgement to Jane in her departure: you have been an amazing partner over the years, and you will be missed.”
Bolanle Tajudeen
“Stepping into the position of Chair at Block 336, an artist-founded and previously artist-run space, is a testament to the power of collective vision and belief in the potential of artistic endeavours.
As our esteemed previous trustee, Jon Sharples, eloquently stated, the ability to produce museum-quality programming in a landscape where funding is scarce is no mean feat. However, Jane and Xabier rose to this challenge, and their remarkable journey, discovering a rare space in Brixton and using it to develop art exhibitions and support artist development, exemplifies their unwavering commitment.
It is with a touch of sadness that I bid them farewell, knowing the immense dedication they poured into making it all happen. However, I am filled with pride as I embark on this new responsibility, eager to take on the role of Chair at Block 336. The significance of artist-run spaces in our ecosystem cannot be overstated—they are the fertile ground where true artistic innovation thrives. Before institutions believed in my own vision, it was artists who believed, and it is with great enthusiasm that I continue this legacy, ensuring that Block 336 remains a vital hub for artistic exploration and community engagement.”
Image: Bolanle Tajudeen
Quotes from artists who worked with Jane:
Jane’s ambition enabled Block 336 to become a space where you could feel emboldened to experiment with what the form of an exhibition could be…Due to the proximity to covid with my own show, there was much to consider, yet the thoroughness of Jane and Block’s team turned limitations into opportunities to find new ways to share art.
Jane’s vision for Block 336 was a masterclass in how to be ambitious on a budget; there were always solutions, and her parallel life as a gifted artist enabled a depth of understanding and a fluency in the language of materials, making the process of exhibition making feel like being at home in the studio.
– Andy Holden
The art world can be many places, when you come across people like Jane it quickly becomes a paradise where you can do anything and push yourself to your limits and yet feel safe. Working with Block 336 remains a turning point for me as an artist, a moment where I was able to be playful, ambitious and courageous with the support of Jane and the amazing team at Block 336, I created a work that exceeded my expectations of what I could do.
– Sarah Roberts
Working at Block 336 with Jane was a unique and wonderful experience for our practice. Jane’s role in the project, from start to finish, was pivotal… Her energy and generosity were truly exceptional – when she wasn’t carrying out her role as director she thought nothing of stepping in to help with the install itself. We have abiding memories of Jane working up until the last second herself painting (beautifully) the exhibition details on the gallery wall whilst simultaneously inventing transcultural names for the cocktails that were to be served that evening at the opening! She did all of this whilst slipping into her own studio whenever she found a moment to work on her own paintings for an upcoming show – unstoppable!
– Vong Phaophanit + Claire Oboussier
Over JHG’s time at Block 336 she curated boldly and bravely, enabling artists to really take on that great chasmic space. Uniquely artists could make work in it and for it – really making the work sing – every visit to the gallery utterly transformed. Her persistence through the pandemic and all the challenges it threw our way will never be forgotten. My own project Spekyng Rybawdy was a very special one to me and one that I could not have developed anywhere else. Bravo JHG and excited to see what worlds you will bring into being next.
– Melanie Jackson
My experience at Block 336 was one of the most positive experiences I have had dealing with a gallery. From the very first moment I felt the complete authenticity of the gallery through my interactions with Jane. Her pastoral care as a curator was heart warming and epitomised the meaning of the word ‘curator’. She was rigorous in her curatorial duties and ensured that my work could stand up to whatever criticism may come my way. She always ensured that my desire for how the work was to be exhibited was expressed and through her amazing team realized. Her fair treatment on all levels was admirable and this permeated all aspects of my experience. The team were all such lovely, caring and sensitive people. She will be missed!
– Karen McLean
Image: Torremolinos-Tableaux-Tongue-Twister (After Sun), 2017.
Sarah Roberts