Contemporary arts space opens in Nottingham city centre

A contemporary arts organisation has become the guardian of a vacant-four storey building in Nottingham’s city centre.

OTOKA, which translates to island in Croatian, is located in the home of a former Clarks shoe shop.

The new space launched a programme of events last Thursday (18 May), set to feature art exhibitions and creative projects.

Working in partnership with East Street Arts, OTOKO will be working towards taking on as many empty spaces in the city as possible to help provide new opportunities for artists in the area.

Director Candice Jacobs said the latest project will “re-enliven the High Street with exhibitions, events, performance and public art works that show what can be possible when artists take on these empty spaces to nurture the inclusivity, diversity & the ambition of its communities”.

“In this new space OTOKA will be supporting the work of local, national & international artists, local businesses, students and graduates,” Jacobs added.

“As well as putting on exhibitions and events, we’ll be providing studios and taking advantage of the building’s cornered frontage to curate window displays and public art projects for the area.”