Details

Ahead of their July – September exhibition Practice – A Collective Conversation the resident artists at OFS warmly invite you to come and discover their diverse work and somewhat hidden artists studios situated under the bright skylight windows and iron rafters at the top of The Old Fire Station. There will be opportunities throughout the week to chat with each artist in person, discuss their individual practices and to arrange commissions for future projects and artworks. Certain weekend dates will also include activities for children and there will be an interactive feedback board – whereby you may find your insights and comments make their way into their collective summer show.

Amongst their diverse disciplines the studio group include artists working in and exploring – illustration, portraiture, abstraction, landscape, live arts, theatre design, sound art, mixed media, new media, paint, printmaking and sculpture.

Studio artists:

Alexa Cox
Artist & Teacher
Works on paper exploring the nature of storytelling, the book and the construction of narratives through encounters. Watercolour, mixed media, book, ink, paper, print and drawing.

Patrick Farmer
Artist, Arts Facilitator & Tutor
Composition and realisation in various media. Organiser – Sound I’m Particular and Audiograft Festival. Member of the Sonic Art Research Unit.
Audio visual, print, publication and performance.

Rebecca Lee
Illustrator (children’s, editorial) & Immersive Designer.
Therapeutic and respite art interventions, meaningful participant engagement and visual storytelling initiatives for public spaces, theatre, music, publication and museum.
Watercolour, gouache, ink, audio visual, sculpture, installation, stage and costume design.

Zelga Simone Miller
Artist
Drawing in the form of decal, frieze and stop motion exploring narrative.
Charcoal, graphite, ink, pastel, acrylic and oil paint, collage and public art installation.

Lucy Proctor
Artist & Arts Educator
Investigating ideas around isolation, displacement and the resilience of both our physical and psychological landscapes. Trained Art Therapist. Mixed media, oil paint and sculpture.

Lucy Stopford
Artist & Arts Organiser
Working from life in oil paint, charcoal and clay to capture the process of observation by leaving the traces of enquiry in the material in the form of gestural marks.

Parking & Access

Parking

There are a number of Blue Badge parking spaces nearby on Beaumont Street, and more on New Inn Hall Street and St Giles.

The closest car park is Gloucester Green Car Park, accessed via Gloucester Street.

If you have any questions or concerns, the City Council’s Access Officer can be reached at 01865 249811.

Getting here

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, but we need your help. Use ecoway, our sustainable travel planner, to see the most eco-friendly options for your journey to Old Fire Station, and plan a bespoke and flexible route. ecoway is easy to use and you’ll be kept up to date with any disruption or changes to your journey plan.

Car parks in Oxford Blue Badge information Public transport in Oxford

Access

Disabled patrons are eligible for one free companion ticket with their booking. To book this, contact the ticket office: tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or 01865 263990.

There are two entrances to the Old Fire Station: 40 George Street via the foyer, and on Gloucester Green via the shop. Both are step-free. If you are coming to a show, we ask that you use the George Street entrance, as the Gloucester Green entrance is not always open.

Events in the Theatre

There is level entry to the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the main Theatre (where most shows take place).

If you are a wheelchair user attending a sit-down show, space will be reserved for you. If you are attending a standing gig, please contact us (call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk) and we will talk with you about your needs.

Events in the Studio

There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Studio.

Events in the Loft

There are six steps leading up to the Loft space, with no lift. If you would like to discuss this to find out more, please get in touch.

The Gallery

There is step-free access to the Gallery – level entry through the George Street entrance, and via lift from the Gloucester Green entrance.

Facilities

Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, accessible via platform lift. Other toilets are in the basement (accessible via lift).

Hearing assistance system
The Theatre is equipped with a hearing assistance system. If you have any questions about using it, please e-mail us at tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or phone 01865 263980.

Assistance dogs
All types of assistance and guide dogs are welcome at the Old Fire Station. It would be great if you could let us know in advance if you will be bringing a working dog to any performances – just e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.

Strobe lighting
We will warn visitors on the website and in the foyer of the venue if a performance is going to contain strobe lighting. If lighting affects you, and you have any concerns, please call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.

Chairs in the theatre
Our chairs are a standard dining-chair size, measuring 40cm deep by 37cm wide, with a metal frame. Some have arms, and some do not. They are all joined together at the sides, to form rows. If this is likely to pose a problem for you, please email tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk and we can discuss how to make your visit more comfortable.