artist Richard Slatter (right) with Nobby Graham

Richard Slatter’s private view at CHELSEA space’s sister gallery, Chelsea Futurespace, was a special night; not only was it the private view for this excellent new body of work, but it was also the fifth anniversary celebrations for Chelsea Futurespace and the cocktails were flowing.

Richard Slatter private view and Chelsea Futurespace 5th anniversary party

The fifth year anniversary was significant in more ways than one because the contract to run exhibitions at the Grosvenor Waterside development had come to an end and only the property developer, St James Urban Living, knew what the future held.

artist Bruce McLean with Futurecity's Mark Davy

The deal for CHELSEA space’s Donald Smith to create an exhibition programme for staff and alumni from Chelsea College of Art and Design within a new residential development had been brokered by the Director of Futurecity, Mark Davy, as part of a cultural strategy for the planning consent for the site, but with most of the development now sold, the developer had fulfilled their commitments and are concentrating on new projects. Donald Smith met with the Managing Director of St James, Sean Ellis, to discuss the future but by the day of the private view Donald still had no idea if the axe would fall.

artist Richard Slatter shows his work to actor Dudley Sutton

There was a terriffic atmosphere on the night and a great crowd and Donald Smith was finally able to announce the good news that St James, in collaboration with Berkeley First, would sponsor the exhibition programme for a further year.

Richard Slatter had produced his sculpture whilst on a Foundry Fellowship at Chelsea College of Art and Design - a period of intense creativity and hard work focussing on learning, perfecting, and challenging casting practices and exchanging knowledge. Donald Smith was so impressed with Richard’s work and the initiative of the Foundry Manager, John Nicoll, in setting up the Fellowships that he helped raise some money to set up the Chelsea Arts Club Trust/de Laszlo Foundation Foundry Fellowship Award to help pay for Foundry materials such as bronze bullion.

John Nicoll is still looking for further funding so that he can give financial awards to the Foundry Fellows themselves. If you would like to help you can contact him at [email protected]

Donald Smith presents John Nicoll with a cheque for two thousand pounds towards materials for Foundry Fellowships at Chelsea College of Art and Design