MEMBERS of the newly formed Southampton Chamber of Arts have demonstrated ‘drive’ and determination in promoting their new venture. . . by spray-painting cars!

Artist and prominent member Slam Daniels, who is giving up his time to create these mobile works of art that will be on our streets in the new year said: “It will demonstrate to the public what a great city Southampton is for the arts.”

At the same time the chamber will be launching their website which in turn will be promoting its concept of the revolving art gallery.

A founding member of the chamber, Steve Kearslake said: “A growing group of artists have come together from across the city to form a very broad based platform of artistic collaboration dedicated to lifting arts culture awareness.

“The membership of the Southampton Chamber of Arts already includes artists and craft workers from many disciplines including literature, music and performance.

“As a primarily self-financing group its members have been working hard to put the mechanisms in place for a proper launch of the chamber early in the new year.”

He added: “A new website with live forums for collaboration and online galleries is being set up so members can promote their work to the public and it will co-exist with a ‘real world’ rotating gallery which we are currently creating with the support of local businesses donating wall space in high footfall areas across the city.

Spray can artists “To lift its profile in the new year some very talented spray can artists will be turning old cars into mobile works of art to advertise that the chamber has arrived.

“These will be appearing on Southampton roads by the end of February.

“Five vehicles have already been put forward for a makeover, where the owner of the vehicle can submit a theme for the artists to work from.

“Slots will be made available for members of the public who fancy driving a work of art to apply to the Chamber for inclusion in the scheme when it is launched in January.”

The chamber is very grateful to St Denys Church, which has offered them an administrative home.

Other proposals within the chamber are that publishing arms, both literature and music should be established over the next year so as to promote creatives specialising in disciplines other than the visual.

All creative people in the city are welcome to come on board as the chamber will run in parallel with other arts initiatives and all can have a voice.

The evolving core objectives of the chamber are to involve the thousands of people in the city who currently do not engage with the arts and to achieve more space for the production, display and performance of such.