MESSUMS ORG ABOUT:  

MESSUMS ORG is a collaborative environment for artists, collectors and thinkers.  It is a virtual and physical network for the presentation and engagement with creative expression across artistic genre.  

We sell art, we fund creativity.  

Started as Messums Wiltshire in 2016 in a 13th Century Tithe Barn by Johnny Messum, the business has established venues and arts communities in the West and East of England connected with an exhibiting space in London. It continues to evolve the role of the gallery from presentational space to one that offers multiple ways to access, experience, understand and engage with the creative process and its outcomes.  

Our core specialisms are represented in the breadth of the arts we engage in as part of the programme of exhibitions and events at our venues. This encompasses painting, sculpture, ceramic, photography, and performance as well as film, architecture, textiles and more.  

Together with our exhibitions and events, we offer international artist residencies, contemporary dance premières, symposia, and workshops. Underpinning all of this is an appreciation and respect for nature to which most artists and individuals would readily identify, and a belief that innovation like creativity itself runs at the vanguard of our thoughts.  

Watch the Messums Productions films MAKING INTRODUCTIONS on our YouTube channel.

THE MESS

The Mess is at the heart of Messums West and is an ideal place to reflect on the art on display whilst catching up with friends and family over a freshly ground coffee or speciality tea with homemade cake.Our courtyard garden offers our guests the chance to soak up more of the beautiful surroundings here at Messums.

MESSUMS STUDIOS

Set in buildings on a converted American World War II Airbase, Messums Studios have run full time as teaching art studios since 2021 offering term-based courses in ceramic and in drawing as well as one-on-one tuition and outreach. Its aim is to support life-long creative learning with the emphasis on the individual’s development of creative language through tuition in the skills of making and in material knowledge.  

Messums Studios helps to foster a community of creatives of all ages, abilities, and levels of expertise to engage with the various languages of making. Within our primary exhibition programming, audiences can continue to engage with making processes by connecting with our visiting and exhibiting artists through talks, studio visits and on-site workshops. Our guiding principle is the presentation of art as empathetic language and the integration of creativity within communication.   

MESSUMS CREATIVE

Messums Creative was founded to support the creation and engagement with art and culture in a social context within the United Kingdom. We are passionate about accelerating the growth of education in these areas. The main art forms we support are PERFORMANCE and FINE ART. 

In Performance, we provide emerging choreographers with an annual choreography platform which offers professional creative development and support for the creation, presentation and touring of new work.  

In Fine Art, we offer creative learning environments for communities through workshops and close contact with a variety of professional practitioners. 

Outreach is provided by supporting key stakeholders in these artforms to facilitate onsite delivery as part of programming as well as the provision of external delivery in third party venues. 

MW ART SERVICES

STORAGE | RESALE | INSTALLATION

Founded by the team at Messums West, MW Art Services is an independent company of specialists in the arts industry.

Bringing together the unique range of expertise and skill sets that have driven the Messums West programming, MW Art Services is now available directly to individuals and institutions to help with the storage, maintenance and management of your artworks and collections.

Contact us to discuss your requirements at in**@me*****.org

ACTIVE ENVIRONMENTALISM

Active Environmentalism is a transition from protest to participation. It is a recognition that knowledge is better shared and that when informed our innate moral compass is all the guide we need.

Action begins with knowledge. Since 2021, we have been hosting a series of discussions that have taken us from the sea though land and air towards a consideration of the future and what we can do on an individual and community level.

 

EMERGING TALENT PROGRAMME 

We support and nurture young artists enabling opportunities through our Emerging Talent programme which champions a new generation of artists who exemplify the quality that runs through our more senior programming at MESSUMS ORG.  Image of Poiana at work.  

They are supported initially by our Making Introductions programme and a round exhibitions before deciding if they would like to be represented by the company. Short videos that can be seen HERE

MESSUMS BOOKSHOP

The bookshop at Messums West is an important part of our experiential offer and provides a place to meet with friends as well as the sharing of ideas whilst enjoying our barn blend coffee.

Explore our selection of artbooks HERE

DIRECTOR

Johnny Messum

ADVISORY BOARD

Helen Birchenough

Advisory Board

Jane Bonham Carter

Advisory Board

Harry MacAuslan

Advisory Board

Jenny Tozer

Advisory Board

Jonathan Wood

Advisory Board

TEAM

Kaya Clarkson

Gallery Director

Hannah Davies

Director of Operations: Art

Mirka Golden-Hann

Head of Messums Studios

Dr Claudia Milburn

Director of Programming

Catherine Milner

Creative Director

Charles Minter

Director of Sales

Bill Fletcher Neal

Accounts

Emily Pinsent

Exhibitions Manager Messums West

Stephanie Rennie

Online Programming Manager

Edward Scott

Messums Studios Coordinator

Melissa Stourton

Director Messums West

Olly Le Sueur

Sales and Events Manager

Lewis Woods

Artist Registrar and Client

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We look forward to sending you advance information and keeping you up to date. Please check your email inbox for further information from Messums.org