House of Diamonds, an overview, its functions and purpose.
The Facility exists to promote the area’s artists and artisans, to establish an artists cooperative, to invite members into it from around the province. It is hoped that by the year 2013 it may be a fully functional gallery, retail shop and art studios with the ability to promote and sell Nfld. and Lab. art nationally and internationally.
On a municipal level the facility operates as a public venue for artists and artisans, with studios and meeting rooms. As well as painting, drawing and photography, it is hoped that fabric art, rug and mat hooking, pottery, Glass mosaics, sculpture, woodcraft arts and other more broadly defined activities will develop. It is hoped this will increase the public use of the facility.
The House of Diamonds is owned by Mr. Darryl Fry who leases it to the Town of Glovertown for one dollar per year to support the arts. It is administrated by the House of Diamonds incorporated, a not for profit group of volunteers. It receives its direction from the Glovertown and Area Artists Cooperative.
The Facility is comprised of three basic components:
The first is the gallery. The Gallery consists of rooms on the ground level and upper story. It exhibits art from local, regional and provincial artists. It also displays student art from the annual Glovertown Academy "May is Art Month" exhibition. Not all work is for sale, and where art work is sold it is done on a consignment basis.
The second component is the studio. This is the renovated warehouse on the old Diamond property and is currently dedicated to painting, and photography as well as providing the Grinnin' and Pickin' group (local musicians who get together as members of GAAC) with a place to hold jam sessions. In the further there are plans to develop the basement and construct an outer building which would house among other things a Photographic dark room and Pottery Kilns.
The third component is the retail section. Here, the products of local artists and artisans are for sale. This section also contains the administrative office.
Currently the facility is staffed throughout the tourist season, from April until November. It is open year round to artists and artisans using the studio facility.
