BRINGING MODERN ART TO THE PEOPLE

The director of Modern Art Oxford, Paul Hobson, tells us about one of the UK's top contemporary art institutions.

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of Modern Art Oxford?

The Museum of Modern Art Oxford, founded in 1965, was initiated by local architect Trevor Green and a group of contemporary art enthusiasts. Green, who also served as the museum's first director, along with many of the artists he invited to exhibit, envisioned an institution distinct from traditional museums. They aimed to create a space where audiences could engage more directly and powerfully with radical new forms of art. They secured a lease on a semi-derelict Victorian brewery, owned by Oxford City Council, which at the time was being used as a furniture storeroom. After light renovations, Trevor Green, and later Peter Ibsen (director, 1970-73), launched a programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions. The museum's primary aim was the advancement of education of the general public in the modern visual arts. Though the location was initially meant to be temporary, the gallery soon gained a reputation as one of the leading contemporary art spaces.

Its pioneering programme featured key developments in contemporary art, including performance, installation, light and sound art, architecture, photography, film, and conceptual art.

Since its founding, 30 Pembroke Street has remained the gallery's home, although it has undergone extensive remodelling over the years. In 2002, the gallery was renamed Modern Art Oxford.

What have been some of the gallery's most notable exhibitions and shows?