Jane Hall is the driving force behind the Manx Art Directory, an online ’go-to’ website which collects together information on Manx artists, has all the latest goings-on in the local arts scene and lets everyone know ’the who, what, where and when of Manx Art’.

I t is unbelievable that it’s two years since I launched the Manx Art Directory.

In January 2016 I walked around a creative industries meeting handing out a flyer saying ’I’ve had an ideaâ?¦’

I didn’t know any artists at all at that point and they didn’t know me.

I thought everyone would jump at the idea but after a few days when I realised no one was going to get in touch I started putting in the leg work, talking to people on a one-to-one basis and asking each of them to give me their details for the website.

I launched the website a couple of months later in early March.

Roll on two years and 260 blog posts later the Directory now lists over 75 local artists, photographers, ceramicists, sculptors and creatives who work in other mediums.

The whole idea behind the website is to bridge the gap between the artists and the public, making them more visible and helping to promote their work.

Many artists have their own websites but unless you know who or what you are looking for it’s difficult to know where to start.

You can’t look up artists in the Yellow Pages and even if you could, it wouldn’t be a lot of help as you wouldn’t be able to see their work.

It occurred to me that a website bringing everyone onto one platform was the solution.

Each artist has their own page featuring six pictures of their work, their contact details and a brief biography.

Instead of having to trawl through internet search engines it’s all in one place.

You can see a whole range of different styles on the Directory and then dig down to each artist’s own website or media platform to see further examples of their artwork.

I was very fortunate at the outset to list some of the Island’s best known and respected artists.

These include Juan Moore, Jeremy Paul, Svetlana Cameron, Nicola Dixon and Bruno Cavellec to name just a few.

I am sure that their lead helped encourage other artists to get their own pages. My sincere thanks go out to all of the artists now listed on the Directory for their trust in me and their generosity in allowing me to share their work.

I now write a weekly ’art news’ which is published every Monday morning (with the odd exception for holidays) which helps to showcase new work, feature up and coming young artists, publicise what’s on at the local galleries and lists a variety of creative workshops.

Whilst I’ve had some funding in the last two years from the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx National Heritage and Pokerstars (as was), for which I am extremely grateful, the Directory isn’t really a ’for profit’ venture.

The listings for the artists are free as is the time I put into visiting all of the exhibitions and writing the blog posts but if anyone would like to help support this mainly altruistic venture then there are advertising opportunities available, so please contact me by email at [email protected] if you would like further information.

And if you’re wondering why I do it?

Well, I’ve finally found something that is both worthwhile and that I’m passionate about.

by Jane Hall

www. manxartdirectory.com

twitter: @manxartdirectory