A venue transformed - Chichester’s Oxmarket Contemporary chairman stands down - video Dailymotion

SussexWorld

After overseeing a massive refurbishment programme and transforming the venue’s standing, Sophie Hull has stepped down as chairman of Chichester’s Oxmarket Contemporary.

Transcript

00:00 Good afternoon, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers, and it's

00:06 always really fantastic to speak to Sophie Hull, but today quite sad because Sophie,

00:11 after seven and a half years at the Oxmarket as Chairman, you have decided to step down,

00:15 now stepping down, it has to be said, having transformed the place. Was it a difficult

00:21 decision to think now is the time to move on for other challenges?

00:26 It's always a difficult decision to make such a momentous one, but having achieved what

00:31 has been achieved over the last seven years and a half years, it's important to recognise

00:37 that there are other things to do in Chichester and that I leave it in very good hands and

00:42 in a very good state, so I've done it.

00:46 And let's remember what you've done there, because I know from the outside you have completely

00:51 changed it there, haven't you? Not just its look and its feel, but also its standing within

00:56 Chichester. Tell me what those changes have been, the ones that you feel particularly

01:00 proud of.

01:01 Well, the most important one was actually raising the money for the major refurbishment.

01:07 How much did you have to raise?

01:10 Over a quarter of a million pounds. So for a very small charity like ourselves, that

01:16 was a big ask, but we managed it.

01:21 And what did that refurbishment do? Just remind us.

01:25 Well, it improved the outside signage, no end. It provided a reception area, which is

01:32 now a very successful shop. It provided a desk for people to be welcomed and a kitchen,

01:39 and those facilities are extremely useful whenever we're holding events, private views

01:44 or drinks parties or talks. So it can be used in a number of ways. And also, as a result

01:52 of being so much smarter and the light being so much better, we've attracted a number of

01:58 new artists that we probably wouldn't have attracted before.

02:02 And you were saying your standing within the artist community in Chichester has never been

02:06 higher, has it?

02:08 I think that's fair to say. We've had some amazing artists, some amazing group shows,

02:14 and we'll continue, I'm absolutely confident. And I think that's primarily down to the fantastic

02:20 facilities that are there and also the help that we've had in raising our profile in various

02:28 ways and for people to recognise it as a big feature in the community and also that we're

02:37 a charity. I mean, we've got one of the best selections of cards anywhere. And I think

02:42 that people, when they realise it's a charity, feel warmer towards going there and buying

02:48 a unique present for whatever occasion.

02:50 Definitely, you really sense that people's attitudes towards the arts market has changed.

02:55 And it's the super cool thing to do, isn't it? To bow out when things are going extraordinarily

02:59 well and change things considerably rather than leave quietly when things are struggling.

03:05 Exactly. Yes. Yeah. No, we've seen too many people sort of being forced out and that's

03:12 certainly not the case. And I'm just thrilled to leave it in such good hands and in such

03:19 a healthy state. And, you know, we've got more repeat bookings from previous years,

03:24 again in the diary. So it's a good time to step down.

03:27 Fantastic. Well, Mai, congratulations to you on all that you've achieved. I know how hard

03:32 you've worked there and you've always been an absolute joy to work with. So thank you

03:36 ever so much and good luck with what comes next.

03:40 Thank you very much, Phil. It's been a pleasure working with you.

03:42 Thank you.

03:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]

A venue transformed - Chichester’s Oxmarket Contemporary chairman stands down

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