Photo by Lisa Wells

The Transforming Spaces Committee is pleased to announce plans for its 2016 Art Tour entitled ‘SWELL – Community + Collaboration’ which will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13.

Now in its twelfth year, Transforming Spaces has been a significant component in the development of visual art in New Providence having catered to over 4,000 persons from The Bahamas and abroad. Every year Transforming Spaces has redefined its mission to promote local artists, reflect current trends in Bahamian art, and expose and educate patrons to the inner workings of the Bahamian art industry while challenging both artists and audiences to create and perceive art in new and innovative ways. The art tours have provided a window into the galleries, studios, artwork and lives of the best visual art organizations and practitioners in the country by not only transforming and improving the quality of the Bahamian physical, economic and social environment through artistic endeavours, but by also exposing Bahamian Art to the world.

Transforming Spaces was recently incorporated as a non-profit organization and is poised to enter a new phase of existence and purpose with a complete re-branding of its image and activities scheduled to be launched on Friday, January 22. Transforming Spaces 2016, therefore, will also be offering several exciting changes to its format, including incorporating the Towne Hotel on George Street as the main curated exhibition space, in conjunction with the following satellite galleries: Central Bank of The Bahamas, The Great House at the Central Bank, Hillside House, and Popop Studios ICVA which will offer a series of openings and events throughout the week leading up to the weekend’s activities.

Well known for its popular interactive bus rides to visit the various galleries on a strict schedule throughout the day, this year, patrons will be treated to a revised structure with a shuttle bus which can be accessed at their leisure that will be constantly available at specified intervals between the art spaces. Art Tour Ambassadors will be accessible at all the spaces to assist patrons with their needs, and food, drinks and entertainment will be available at the Towne Hotel.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the beginning of February. For more information concerning the Tour, log on to the new website www.tsbahamas.com.