Fancy A Pint? The artist talk series creating a community in Jersey

Composing, poetry and drag are just some of the arts covered by the speakers in the 'Fancy A Pint?' artist talk series.

On the last Wednesday of every month, a group of likeminded islanders get together in The Troubadour to listen to talks hosted by some of the island's creatives. 

'Fancy A Pint?' is a community organised event in collaboration with The Moving Arts collective, aiming to 'build a creative community and create a safe space to share knowledge, experience and most importantly, art.'

The group was formed by Shan O'Donnell, a local documentary photographer. She says it came from noticing a gap in Jersey for similar groups:

"It came about early last year. I went on an artist residence with ArtHouse to a gallery in Montenegro and they had an abundance of art and community and it reminded me of my time at university, where there was an abundance of art and we would meet up and talk about art.

"When I came back I felt that there was a gap for this and I wanted to build a community. I picked artists that I felt would be keen. It's all done in my spare time and the artists' spare time as well to keep it grassroots and community based. 

"We get a range of people.  I've only advertised it through Instagram and through word of mouth, but we've had such a mix of people, young and old. 

"With arts in general, we have a big scene of galleries here - which is great - but a lot of the time they maybe only invite a certain demographic of people.  They are very much spaces that are professional, and some people might not feel comfortable in those spaces. 

"I think now, there are people in Jersey that are creating projects to build this community and bring people together. It's very exciting."

The talks take place in The Troubadour pub and people are encouraged to bring dogs, friends, and to enjoy a drink. 

Author Dr. Zakiya McKenzie hosted the most recent talk.

She discussed her book Black Earth: Resistance, Anti-racism and the Environment, in a talk that covered climate justice, racial inequality and the role of literature and the arts in advancing environmental activism.

She says art spaces are a great way to discuss and examine the world:

"There are different routes of reaching people. Sometimes things are difficult to talk about and are hard.

"I believe that art and writing gives us different 'ins', and different ways to engage with these topics for different people. We can engage with the ideas without them having to be too academic, and too harsh."

At the end of each talk there is a Q&A and discussion opened to the floor.

Their next talk is Wednesday 26 February, which will be a panel discussion with performers and drag performers.

Shan says she has plans to expand the group with events that aren't just artist talks, such as film nights or drawing nights.

You can keep up with the group here.