Artist couple Philip and Charlotte Colbert have opened a new not-for-profit art space called Camden Arts Projects (CAP) in north London, taking over the former Zabludowicz Collection gallery at 176 Prince of Wales Road. The venue, a former Methodist church, was bought by the Colberts last year and now operates under an umbrella company called Contemporary Culture Collective. The opening exhibition features works by Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed, including an immersive balloon installation and a neon piece, and is free to the public. Curator Hala Matar, formerly of The Little House in Los Angeles, is running the exhibition programme.
This development matters because it revitalizes a significant cultural venue that hosted the Zabludowicz Collection from 2007 to 2023, one of the UK's most prominent private contemporary art collections. The Colberts' commitment to a not-for-profit model with free admission ensures continued public access to contemporary art in London, while supporting both emerging and established artists. The shift from a major collector-run space to an artist-led initiative reflects a broader trend of artists taking direct control of exhibition spaces to foster community engagement.