Artlink

Arts

Championing diversity, inclusivity, and equality in our community.

Artlink Hull is a community arts charity dedicated to bringing the creative arts to everyone, especially people who haven’t had the chance to get involved before. We’re based at our beautiful 87 Gallery in the heart of HU5 in Hull: a hyper local visual art gallery with a

national outlook, rooted in the communities we serve and developing world-class talent.

Since 1982 we have played a key role in Hull, leading creative workshops, learning programmes and events that are inclusive and reduce barriers to entry. Much of our work takes place in community venues such as libraries, care settings and youth centres across the city, as well as our home at 87 Gallery.

Our visual art exhibition programme prioritises commissioning early career artists from under-represented backgrounds, encouraging experimentation in the production of ambitious new work. We achieve a balance between supporting artists based in Hull and East Yorkshire and those from other locations around the UK, to nurture a healthy arts ecology in our city.

In 2024 we launched Our Community Gallery, a flexible, creative space in which we platform the outcomes of our community, outreach and learning programmes and celebrate the artists who participate in these strands of our work. In 2025 we extended this to include Our Children’s Gallery so that children and young people feel welcome and can celebrate their artistic achievements on the walls of a professional art gallery.

‘Emma Prempeh | The Nearness of Elsewhere’ exhibition launch and tour at 87 Gallery, Artlink Hull.

Artlink Hull invites you to The Nearness of Elsewhere, a new commission of paintings and digital projections by London-based artist Emma Prempeh. Reflecting on her London upbringing and her African-Caribbean heritage, Emma Prempeh consistently returns to the theme of home. Utilising magic realism, she re-examines diasporic identity through storytelling and myth, commenting on the circularity of time and memory. Her work assesses her personal relationship with place and highlights the stories of others who share similar experiences.

Curated in collaboration with Tiwani Contemporary, this exhibition is inspired by research visits to Hull, where Emma has led workshops and attended community gatherings to incorporate the stories of local people and places. This summer, Prempeh invited people in Hull to contribute creatively to the canvases, encouraging reflection on interiors and natural environments that hold personal significance. Flowers from local greenspaces are merged with blooms from Prempeh’s native South London. Interiors featuring bay windows, such as those commonly seen in terrace houses around Hull, collide with views of the Humber Bridge as seen from the Humber Bridge Country Park, a marker of returning home for many who live here.

Celebrate the launch of this exciting exhibition with us:

Public launch event (free to attend): Friday 3 October 2025, 6-8pm (quiet hour: 5-6pm).

Exhibition tour with Emma Prempeh (free to attend): Saturday 4 October 2025, 11:30am – 12:30pm.

The exhibition will then be open at 87 Gallery from 4 October – 19 December 2025. Gallery address: 87 Gallery, 87 Princes Avenue, Hull, HU5 3QP. Opening times: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm.

www.artlinkhull.co.uk

www.87gallery.co.uk

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our values

Collaboration

With the support of Hull University, we strive to create lasting change by working hand-in-hand with local stakeholders and community leaders.

Equality

Hull’s Black community is a vibrant and integral part of our city.

Diversity

The vibrant mix of cultures, traditions, and perspectives enriches the social fabric of the city, making it a truly unique and dynamic place to live.

Inclusive

We work collaboratively and inclusively to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and valued.