It’s been a busy first year for The Old Bailey Gallery. Though it opened only last October, curator Dan Bailey says the gallery feels more established after three artistic residencies and an ever-growing presence in the local arts scene. The former New Yorker had never visited Birmingham before he relocated to the Magic City six years ago. Still, he’s wasted no time meeting the movers and shakers of the local artscape.
One of his first contacts was Studio by the Tracks, which focuses on children and adults on the autism spectrum. The studio’s annual summer fundraising event, Art from the Heart, is its largest effort, and Dan did not hesitate to get involved. When the COVID pandemic hit, and the fundraiser pivoted to online, an idea struck him: Why not contact a few artists he’d worked with in New York, London, and other cities? If everything was virtual, their art could be part of the auction and help raise funds for Studio by the Tracks.
“I started reaching out to these artists in bigger cities, telling them about Art from the Heart, and asking them to send one of their artworks,” he said. “They were happy to help.”
Fast-forward to 2023, when Dan decided to open The Old Bailey Gallery; that’s when he reached back out to the artists who were kind enough to contribute to the fundraiser. In his words, “everything came together once [he] secured the gallery space,” and his friends in New York and London were at “the top of the list” of those he wanted to invite. “I wanted to repay them for their kindness – and I've been fans of their art for years.”
Now, those artists are also fans of Birmingham. While Dan candidly says he considers Birmingham “the center of the universe,” he couldn’t have predicted how well-received the city would be by residents of global metros. The Magic City’s thriving culture, friendly locals, affordable cost of living, and natural beauty won them over. And while the artists had heard from their host how great Birmingham is, the city still exceeded their expectations.
“There’s a sense of opportunity here,” Dan muses. “The art world is affordable, off the radar, and a bit of a blank slate. Unlike the bigger cities where these artists come from, they can afford a studio, pay the rent, and make art. It's refreshing.”
During a residency, each artist stays at Dan’s home—a one-minute walk from the gallery—and Dan is as hands-on or hands-off as needed in hosting. All stay for about a month and spend about a week installing their show at the gallery. After an opening party and an artist talk, the artists can utilize their free time exploring independently, with as much or as little feedback from Dan as they want. Recommendations have included the Birmingham Museum of Art, Room 412, Scott Miller Projects, and Ground Floor Contemporary, among “other galleries doing amazing things.”
“And everyone has wanted to come back,” Dan adds, “so we’ll have some returning artists eventually.”
Though Dan spent years creating art himself—painting, sculpture, mixed media, and music—these days, he’s happy to maintain his role as a curator. Now that year one for The Old Bailey Gallery is almost over, Dan looks forward to more successful residencies and exhibitions, some curated by studios that lack their own space, such as Vinegar Projects and Studio by the Tracks.
“The best way I can express myself at this moment is to provide a platform for other people,” he says. “The gallery space is always utilized, and good energy is always present. Magic continues to happen.”