The Bullpen

We are pleased to welcome visitors to The Bullpen - an artist-led rural arts centre in the Vale of the White Horse in South Oxfordshire.

The arts centre comprises gallery, foundry, studios and workshop room. Artist workshops are held at The Bullpen to promote learning, making and the exchange of ideas. Artist networking and exhibitions are prominent, but the main emphasis of our artist workshops are for professional creative development, challenging artistic practice and finding time to make new work in a supportive and dynamic environment. At each workshop, guest speakers are invited to share their practice with the participating artists through evening talks/lectures. Artist workshops are run for professional creative practitioners, however, we strongly believe in making arts processes accessible and avaliable to all. During our artist workshops, school/community groups and visitor workshops are run alongside. Visitors are given the opportunity to watch artists at work, make their own work and receive tuition and guidance through processes and ideas.

Wesley & Helen Jacobs and Keith & Beth Jacobs began creating the Vale's contemporary arts centre in 2003, in partnership with local businessman John Logan. It has since been growing steadily, with funding from grant awarding bodies and support from the local community.

The Bullpen began, as the name suggests, in an old bullpen on Mill Farm in Stanford in the Vale. Wesley Jacobs moved back to Oxfordshire after completing his degree in Fine Art Sculpture at Norwich School of Art & Design. After several successful exhibitions of his work shown on the farm, it was suggested that this could be developed. Together with Keith Jacobs, whose background is in illustration, they conceived the idea of something more permanent on the farm to display artwork. With the encouragement of the farmer, Justin Riggs, planning permission was sought and granted for the cluster of derelict buildings on the roadside of the farm to be turned into a small arts venue. Wesley meanwhile married Helen, who he had met at art college - and she came on board to run the education programme and began applying for funding. Recently, The Bullpen received substantial funding from Arts Council England, for the metal-casting workshops for artists which will take place in 2009-10.

The building work is almost complete (under the direction of Keith Jacobs, a building contractor for over 30 years) - and since 2006 large-scale artists workshops, exhibitions, events and conferences have all been hosted at The Bullpen.

Presently The Bullpen is open by appointment only, and during events such as exhibitions and workshops. Soon we will be open on the first weekend of the month. Visitors are welcome to come and look around the premises, meet the team behind The Bullpen and make themselves known. To make an appointment, call Helen on 01367 718 722 or email through the website.