Tuesday evening saw the launch of an exhibition at Preston’s newest arts venue, Korova Arts Café and Bar on the corner of Charnley Street and St. Wilfred Street. The venue’s inaugural exhibition is curated by UCLan’s Justine Flynn around a theme of ‘Orange’.
AdvertisementWhen I arrived at 7pm, the venue was already buzzing with every seat taken by a colourful crowd of appreciative art lovers. Almost 40 artworks by 15 local artists adorned the walls of the two ground floor rooms, offering a wide interpretation of the ‘Orange’ theme. Justine, the curator, was on hand to chat about the show, and several of the exhibiting artists were also present including Terry Charnley and Geoff Spence. Preston City Council’s champion for the arts, Cllr James Hull was also in attendance chatting to exhibitors and art fans and demonstrating the council’s support for the increasingly important creative sector.
Korova’s staff pulled out all the stops providing thirst quenching fruit based cocktails and a variety of tempting nibbles for the lively crowd. The evening’s musical accompaniment was provided by guitarists Chris Jones and Jamie Brewer who brought a pleasant ambiance to proceedings that complimented the venue’s laid back atmosphere.
I’m told that the fledgling venture has big plans to become a hub for local creatives while supporting, promoting and engaging with the local community. If the evening’s events are anything to go by, it seems that Korova has made a great start, and with the support of local artists, it looks set to become a regular feature on the local art scene.