Venues for Animation and Risk Assessment Forms

In groups we had to decide on two venues to visit that screen animations. Our group decided on the Arnolfini Gallery and the V-Shed. We wanted to research these venues because they are so different: the Arnolfini is an art gallery that regularly holds film based events alongside it's ever changing fine art exhibitions. While the V-Shed is actually a Wetherspoons bar that relies on it's tv screens to show films/animations.

They are located directly across from each other by Bristol Harbourside, so this made the initial differences in audience, noise, layout etc, even more interesting.

Before going to research the venues and find information on:

• Lighting
• Audience
• Time
• Noise
• Signage
• Demeanour
• Dress of shop/ assistants
• Layout
• Surrounding venues
• Traffic
• Weather condition
• Smells
• Temperature

We had to fill out risk assessment forms for each:

After the assessment forms had been completed we visited the venues:

Arnolfini

The Reception area

• Lighting: Bright, lots of lights and windows. High ceilings, clean and white.

 

Lights: don't distract from the work on show or cause glare.

• Audience: Couples, families, late 20s - 40s. Gallery quite empty, but cafe busy.
• Time: 4:00pm Sunday
• Noise: Very quiet gallery, slightly loud cafe.
• Signage: Really clear, lots of signs in reception directing to the exhibition spaces and other facilities. Artist information relating to pieces slightly away from the pieces though.

Signs: extensive and clear

• Demeanor: Welcoming and professional.
• Dress of shop/ assistants: Shop open, organised and clear. Very helpful customer service.
• Layout: Open and airy. No tight spaces. Clear and simple structure to the floors. Animation can be screened in multiple spaces for different atmospheres: in the large exhibition rooms, in the auditorium and in the dark room on the top floor.

Lots of space in the exhibition rooms

Lift available if necessary

Combination of white walls and windows creates the airy atmosphere

Lighting can be changed if necessary from one space to the next

Signs visible and there are stairs to all floors that have hand railings

• Surrounding venues: Cultural surroundings - architecture museum next door.

Railings surround the harbour outside for safety

The path outside

• Traffic: Pedestrian area, but quite busy with people.

The pedestrian path outside

• Weather condition: Sunny, occasional rain.
• Smells: None around gallery spaces, slight food smell in cafe, but not strong.
• Temperature: Normal room temperature inside, slightly more humid in cafe because of cooking equipment.

 Animation screens:

The Arnolfini has multiple facilities for screening animations, all with different atmospheres:

The Auditorium

Numerous seats are provided and animations can be projected onto a large screen.

 Image provided with permission by the Arnolfini Gallery


The Dark Studio

More intimate venue

 Image provided with permission by the Arnolfini Gallery


 The Exhibition Spaces

TVs and headphones can be installed for single viewings.

V-Shed

Outside of V-Shed

Inside: where animations can be screened from the TVs above the bar.

• Lighting: Quite dark inside, minimal, but ambient.
• Audience: General public, mix of people but leaning towards middle aged group.
• Time: 4:55pm Sunday
• Noise: Quite noisy inside and out because of general talking.
• Signage: Reasonable: enough signs are provided, but not extensively.
• Demeanor: Relaxed and informal.
• Dress of shop/ assistants: Simple layout to bar. Formal uniform for staff and adequate customer service.
• Layout: Quite easy to navigate and open. Screens for animation can be seen immediately when entering the venue and can be seen even when sat outside.
• Surrounding venues: Other bars.
• Traffic: Pedestrian area, but quite quiet.
• Weather condition: Bright and sunny. Outside heating and seats are provided as well.
• Smells: No strong smells of food or alcohol.
• Temperature: Mild inside and outside.

Overall, the Arnolfini Gallery seems more suited for frequent and purpose built animation screenings because of it's facilities and general atmosphere. However, both visits were conducted safely with no additional control measures needing to be enforced.

Thanks to the Arnolfini Gallery for all of their help with this research.