h.Art - Hereford Art Week

It's spring, 2014. My partner, Angel, is sitting in the kitchen of the gentleman who is organising a venue for a group of artists exhibiting in h.Art - The Hereford art week trail with artists across the county. Angel's a fantastic photographer and artist (https://angelika-ciesniarska.pixels.com), it's her first time exhibiting in h.Art. and the two of them are discussing display options in the church.

"So", I ask, "how do other venues display stuff?".

"I don't know," he replies "I've always been stuck at this venue!".

And THAT was the genesis of an idea that turned into #hArtFilm. The intent was to create something so that artists across the county who are "always stuck at their own venue" can see, appreciate and understand the whole that they are a part of. It was also an opportunity for me to finally kickstart the video production career I had been talking about starting for the last few years. I even wrote my "first press release";

h.Art 2014 - Herefordshire Art Week - 9 days, 104 venues, 250 Artists, 1 guy, 1 bike, 667 miles, 1 film

Herefordshire Art Week, known as h.Art, is now in it's 14th year. During that time it has grown from 55 artists to this year's 250 artists and with so many artists exhibiting right across the county and running for just 9 days one surely needs to be selective about which venues to visit? Well, for one budding entrepenuer that wasn't enough.

"Chatting with an organiser of one of the venues where my partner Angel is exhibiting, it struck me how difficult it is for artists to visit other artists and venues when they have their own to manage."

To kick-start a change of career, from software development into video production, Will Hopkins is setting himself the challenge of visiting every venue, recording something  from each artist & venue and creating a piece to capture and celebrate the essence of h.Art;He will be visiting 10-12 venues a day, traveling the planned 667 miles on his video gear adapted motorbike;

"With between 20-45 mins for each venue, depending on the day's route, I will have to work extremely quickly and efficiently to unload whatever camera gear I will be using, take my shots and reload before riding on to the next venue."

In keeping with the Herefordshire theme, Will is also hoping to raise some money for The Clock Tower Fund, which supports individuals and families of injured or fallen members of the local Herefordshire Regiment which he describes as "a sort of Help For (Local) Heroes, giving something back to those of whom we ask so much and whose world leading capabilities we often simply take for granted". Donations can be made at everyclick.com/hart2014.