MOOT have an exhibition running this week at the Contemporary Arts Society as part of the exhibition ‘Rotate’. Jareh Das caught up with Matt Jamieson from the arty collective to quiz him on what they’re all about.







Jareh: What does MOOT stand for/What's in the name?

Matt: MOOT was simply named after the pub down the road from our previous residence, although it did take us about a month to come to that decision. We’ve since come to understand that MOOT originally meant a ‘meeting’ where people would gather to discuss local affairs. In more recent years the word has developed to mean something open to argument or debate, as in a ‘moot question’. Both, coincidently, quite fitting to the role of a gallery.

Jareh: Moot ethos/beginning...How did it all start and was this due to the necessity of artist led/run gallery spaces?

Matt: Moot began in 2005 by myself, Candice Jacobs, Tristan Hessing and Tom Godfrey. We all graduated from Nottingham Trent University about 4 years ago and it was initially the lack of reasons to stay that prompted us to try and create a stronger and more supportive environment in which to live as artists. As we are all primarily artists as well, the role of Moot has been important in informing our own practices working alongside other artists from around the country. Sheffield/Leeds etc have quite a somewhat burgeoning arts scene its really great to see Moot come out of Nottingham (actually are you all from Nottingham and if not why Nottingham?

None of us are actually from Nottingham originally, but it was the BA Fine Art course that brought together a really pro-active group of artists who were also all friends. This, combined with the city’s cheap rent, lead to the creation of the studio group Stand Assembly, which was the original base for Moot.

Jareh: Outside of the gallery what do Moot like i.e Music, other artist's inspiration etc.?

Matt: We all individually have different interests and tastes but we have all taken inspiration from books like ‘City Racing’ which was a London based artist led gallery between 1988 and 1998, definitely worth reading. Also the Hoxton Distillery which opened just after, Orchard in NY and also individuals like Matthew Higgs who balance making art with directing gallery spaces, curating independent shows, writing and publishing.

Jareh: Achievements so far?

Matt: Completing the renovation of our new gallery from a disused, grotty office space in 4 weeks with the help of just a couple of friends was very rewarding. We did everything except install the new lights and plug sockets, which I can safely say were put in by a qualified electrician. It was all finished just in time to set up our inaugural show by artist Tomas Chaffe.

Jareh: Art/Artist's you despise?

Matt: I’d rather not say.

Jareh: What do MOOT have planned for the future? Shows, collaborations special projects etc

Matt: Moot moved to a new space last October, and we now occupy the ground floor of a four floor Victorian building. We are currently waiting to hear back on funding which will allow us to renovate the floors above into professional workspace with workshop and I.T. facilities for artists and to support a full years programming of exhibitions within the gallery. The new space is also vastly different to the last one, so it’s going to be an interesting new challenge for us to curate.

We will also be presenting artists for the forthcoming ‘Rotate’ exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Society in London, opening on the 18th of February at 8pm.