ArtHole, hidden in one of the twisting arcades—the one dominated by Gin and Fizz and the Parisian restaurant—is a wonderful shop, built and operated by Elliot, Kay, and occasionally, on a blanket in a corner, their dog, Colin. Arthole is a not-for-profit art shop, selling stickers, magazines, badges, T-shirts, art prints, little plaster models of tiny creatures, cards, tapestries, crocheted hats, and anything the artists in the surrounding area have made and produced.
If you want a illustrated magazine about having a nightmare on Chippy Lane, ArtHole has five. The two owners are so lovely that they even made zines for “aspiring art student who has just moved to a new city” on where to go and what to do in Cardiff. It is full of fantastic suggestions on where to go and what to do, so I recommend picking it up.
I went in to interview the two owners about the art scene in Cardiff. “Cardiff is split into East and West” is what Elliot says, to me—and it’s true. A majority of the art scene is in Canton with the Corp Market and Chapter Arts Centre (both lovely places). “All the students are over in Cathays”, unable to know about the wonderful art that’s just across the River Taff. Having been in Cardiff for four years, I only discovered Chapter Arts halfway through my second year here and whenever I visit an exhibit at Chapter, I am often one of the only people there. “Its own little nice Canton bubble”, suggests Kay—and it’s true again. Most students never really know about what’s going on in Chapter Arts Centre.
It’s why ArtHole wanted to do outreach. It’s why they’re based in the city centre—to bridge the gap of Cardiff and hopefully promote a nicer art scene.
According to Elliot himself, he has been saying that Cardiff is “up and coming” for ten years now, suggesting it is “on the brink of a really good little renaissance”. The art scene in Cardiff has not had a big moment yet and both are hoping it will come soon with its own Cardiffian identity.
Lastly, when I asked them if they had any questions for students, they said: “What do they want? More opportunities to meet? More markets?” “More places to hang out?” They offered to answer any questions that students had, stating that “it’s not easy being a student”.
On advice for students, Kay had this to say: “Use all the facilities, you'll miss them when they're gone. Rinse them for all they’ve got.”