Following a recent call-out, ArtHouse Jersey has selected local artists Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris to take up residence in a newstudio space at Cyril Le Marquand Court.
The creative space, which the pair have dubbed ‘The Stoodio’, has been made available to them free of charge thanks to a partnership between the charity, ArtHouse Jersey, and Andium Homes. The artists will deliver community driven arts activities for the public that are free and accessible, while providing a chance for people to enjoy creative pursuits or develop new skills, without it being necessary for them to have any aspiration to become an artist.
The artists will open the doors to ‘The Stoodio’ on Monday 20th January. The initial opening days and times are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 6pm, Thursday and Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday from 2pm to 6pm (closed from 2pm to 3:30pm on weekdays). People are welcome to pop into the space at any time during these hours and speak directly with the artists about taking part.
Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris are longtime friends and practising artists who have shared a passion for art since they were young. Over time, they have both discovered that they are neurodiverse and have relied on art for their own wellness. Through opening a space rooted in diversity, inclusive support, understanding, and continuous reflection and experimentation, they hope to support our community by promoting self-acceptance and self-discovery.
Their vision for ‘The Stoodio’, which is situated on the ground floor of Cyril Le Marquand Court, is to create a dynamic and open space for both their personal practice and the wider community. They hope it becomes a place where families, friends, couples, or anyone looking to try something new in Jersey can feel welcome. They are planning workshops, exhibitions, recurring clubs, art walk-ins, a small art shop, and curated art boxes, but above all they say they hope to help break down barriers to creativity, showing that art is accessible, enjoyable, and full of potential.
Artists Hayley Gibaut and Sophie Harris, said: “It’s truly exciting to have been selected by ArtHouse Jersey, and it still feels a bit surreal. We’ve admired ArtHouse Jersey since we were teenagers, a place that has pushed Jersey’s art scene forward, creating spaces to showcase art and offering somewhere we felt we belonged. To now be part of that is an honour, and we’re eager to work alongside the community to demonstrate that art is for everyone, an experience that’s as much about fun and connection as it is about creativity.
“We want to create a community, a collective, a hub where people can talk about art, both online and in person.”
Director for ArtHouse Jersey, Tom Dingle, said: “We’re delighted to have selected Hayley and Sophie to take on this fantastic opportunity. From the call-out’s get go their passion and enthusiasm was clear and we look forward to watching them bring that infectious energy into this unique community space. Lowering barriers to the arts is an integral part of ArtHouse Jersey’s mission and this partnership with Andium is the perfect example of how, with the right spaces made available, we can deliver creative opportunities in the heart of our community. We’d like to thank Andium Homes for inviting ArtHouse Jersey to take charge of this opportunity and enable who we believe to be the most fitting artists to animate this studio for the coming year.”
Regeneration and Placemaking Lead at Andium Homes, Peter Le Gresley, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with ArtHouse Jersey, Sophie and Hayley to provide this opportunity for our clients. At Andium, our vision is delivering great homes and services for all who need them, which means that we not only build high quality homes, but we also help create communities. This project offers a wonderful opportunity for people to come together to have fun, be creative and make new friends. We wish Hayley and Sophie every success with their new venture.”
Pictured: Left to right – Sophie Harris and Hayley Gibaut
