The Island

26/05/2026

This year's Refugee Week, 15 - 21st June, is marking ‘Courage’ and everyone is invited to explore what that means to them. ⁠
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Take part by doing a Simple Act or attending an event near you! ⁠
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We're holding a free screening of 'A World Not Ours' in The Island Venue, the film is an intimate, humorous, portrait of three generations of exile in the refugee camp of Ein el-Helweh, in southern Lebanon⁠
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17th June, 7 - 9pm.⁠
Free entry, book early to avoid disappointment. Donations welcome, 100% of which will go to Bristol Refugee Rights.
Book via Headfirst Bristol, full details and booking.; https://hdfst.uk/e154840
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The Island Venue, Basement level, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD. ⁠
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The Island Venue is located in the basement of the building. Access is limited by a flight of stairs, there are no accessible toilets on the basement level. Please see https://artspace.uk/venue/the-island/venue/ for our full accessibility document.⁠
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To find out what's on & how to get involved visit refugeeweek.org.uk

23/05/2026

Over the last few months photographer has been busy in the darkroom printing negatives spanning 3 years of his photography. He will be exhibiting his work in The Island Gallery from the 4th June. Expect dramatic grainy landscapes from South America contrasted with dance floor moments from his time in Bristol.⁠
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Free and open to the public:⁠
5 pm - 7pm Thursday 4th June⁠
10 am -7 pm Friday 5th June⁠
10 am -10 pm Saturday 6th June, private view 7-10pm⁠
10 am - 4 pm Sunday 7th June⁠
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The Island Gallery, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD.⁠
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The Island Gallery is located on the first floor of the building. Access is limited by two flights of stairs, please see artspace.uk/venue/the-island/gallery-space/ for our full accessibility document.⁠
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22/05/2026

Enter the gallery space at for STOMPING GROUND: a three-day photography exhibition showcasing 14 artists across UWE Photography BA. Discover contemporary visual culture through emerging photographic practices.

📍 Bridewell Street, Bristol BS1 2QD
🖼 Exhibition Runs: 21–23 May
👀 General Viewing: 22–23 May

Free entry. Drop in, explore the works, and spend time with Bristol’s creative community. ✨💕
ground.uwe

21/05/2026

We're proud to be taking part in this year's Refugee Week, the world's largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, resilience and creativity of refugees.⁠
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We're holding a free screening of 'A World Not Ours' in The Island Venue, an intimate, humorous, portrait of three generations of⁠ exile in the refugee camp of Ein el-Helweh, in southern Lebanon.⁠
⁠
17th June, 7 - 9pm.⁠
Free entry, book early to avoid disappointment. Donations welcome, 100% of which will go to Bristol Refugee Rights.
Book via Headfirst Bristol, full details and booking.; https://hdfst.uk/e154840
⁠
The Island Venue, Basement level, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD. ⁠
⁠
The Island Venue is located in the basement of the building. Access is limited by a flight of stairs, there are no accessible toilets on the basement level. Please see https://artspace.uk/venue/the-island/venue/ for our full accessibility document.⁠
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20/05/2026

Stomping Ground - A group of talented second-year photography students from UWE are exhibiting work to explore themes of collaboration.⁠
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📷 1 - Punchline - ⁠
An explorative project collaborating with four different types of comedians to dissect the functions within comedy and how they interact with the camera and photographer. ⁠
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📷 2 - ⁠Eye to Eye - This mixed media project represents the collaboration and connection between photography and textiles. ⁠
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📷 3 - What Grows Between Us - .photography_ This project documents the ‘Fresh Air Thursday’ sessions for young people run by the Birch Collective at their community allotment. ⁠
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Opening night 21st May, 6 - 9pm⁠
Free and open to the public 22nd & 23rd May, 10 - 5pm⁠
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The Island Gallery, First Floor, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD. ⁠
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The gallery is located on the first floor of the building. Access is limited by two flights of stairs, please see artspace.uk/venue/the-island/gallery-space/ for our full accessibility document.⁠
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( #📷 .ground.uwe )⁠
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19/05/2026

Stomping Ground brings together a group of talented second-year photography students from UWE to exhibit work that explores themes of collaboration.⁠
⁠
Opening night 21st May, 6 - 9pm⁠
Free and open to the public 22nd & 23rd May, 10 - 5pm⁠
⁠
The Island Gallery, First Floor, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD. ⁠
⁠
The gallery is located on the first floor of the building. Access is limited by two flights of stairs, please see artspace.uk/venue/the-island/gallery-space/ for our full accessibility document.⁠
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19/05/2026

During the last 6 years photographer Nicolas Deeble has been battling with stress induced tics that formed at the start of the covid-19 pandemic.
"It started suddenly and evolved quickly. I couldn’t hold conversations with people, and I would involuntarily hit, bite and shout verbally abusive words. Worst of all when I felt guilty my body would convulse, I would curl up into a ball and freeze, unwillingly holding my breath. All these things started so suddenly without explanation. I felt alone, drained, and angry."

"Before I started seeking professional help I found there was one thing that helped me cope, the ocean. I started swimming, snorkelling, re-learning to dive. And every time I was in the water, my tics would stop. Watching the water move, the light dance along its surface and break through to the seabed below brought me peace. It was a space where I could finally in years relax and feel like me again."

"I often see my journey of healing reflected in the water’s movement and my project ’In light of it all’ aims to capture the emotions I felt along the way. Starting with the silent onset of my tics to the pride and confidence I feel now. I see my guilt, struggle, rage in the water, but also acceptance, love and peace. It has been with me through the entire process."

‘In Light of It All’ stands as a reminder that connecting with nature can help people struggling with mental health issues and encourage an understanding for others who, like Nicolas, deal with the daily battle of tics.

Here and Now - a group photography exhibition by 35 soon-to-be graduate students of Marine and Natural History photography.

The Island Gallery, First Floor, Bridewell Street, BS1 2QD.
Free and open to the public:
Tuesday 16th June - Opening night 6 - 10pm
Wednesday 17th to Sunday 21st June - 10am - 7pm
exhibition

The Island gallery is located on the first floor of the building. Access is limited by two flights of stairs, please see artspace.uk/venue/the-island/gallery-space/ for our full accessibility document.⁠

( #📷 .exhibition )

18/05/2026

We now have a Studio space within a Shared Studio in P045 available.

Studio fee: £108.90 per month + month deposit.
Studio space - sharing with 5 other artists
Available 12th of July with the potential to move in from the
1st of July 2026

Prices include wifi and facilities bills. Island artists benefit from participating in our annual Open Studios on Saturday 18th and Sunday the 19th of October 2026 and being a part of a welcoming community with discounted gallery space hire fee; Island studio holders have access to a 50 % gallery hire discount for the 1st two bookings.

Not suitable for musicians.

Viewings dates / times:
Tuesday 26th of May 11 am & 5.15 pm
and Thursday 28th of May at 11 am & 5.15 pm

Please email your expression of interest to [email protected] noting which date and time you would like to view the studio.

18/05/2026

A World Not Ours is an intimate, humorous, portrait of three generations of exile in the refugee camp of Ein el-Helweh, in southern Lebanon. Based on a wealth of personal recordings, family archives, and historical footage, the film is a sensitive, and illuminating study of belonging, friendship, and family.

Filmed over more than 20 years by multiple generations of the same family, A World Not Ours is more than just a family portrait; it is an attempt to record what is being forgotten, and mark what should not be erased from collective memory.

Part of the Free Refugee Week Film Festival, 15 - 21st June, refugeeweek.org

Wednesday 17th June, 7 - 9pm. Doors at 6.45pm
Free entry, please book in advance to avoid disappointment at https://hdfst.uk/e154840
Donations welcome, 100% of which will go to Bristol Refugee Rights

The Island Venue, Basement Level, Bridewell Street, Bristol. BS1 2QD.

https://www.palestinefilminstitute.org/en/pfp/archive/a-world-not-ours

PFP Film of the Week #28

18/05/2026

We couldn't agree more Kerry McCarthy:

“When you’ve got a development to scale how do you build the grungier elements into it?” she asks, sipping her oat flat white. “The worry is that you end up with something very bland.”

Kerry, a patron of the Music Venue Trust (MVT), is referencing Joy Division’s roots in industrially declining Manchester and the warehouse origins of the Wild Bunch: “You need a bit of grit for that music to develop.

“If you kicked them out of their warehouses or squats and bought them a shiny new rehearsal studio, they probably wouldn’t end up making the same music. Let them be and allow them to have some spaces.”

The MP for Bristol East talks music, mushrooms and giant squid over scrambled tofu