The University of Cambridge has, in many respects, been associated with the cultural aura of the UK for decades. A prolific number of writers, philosophers, and actors have graced the halls of Pembroke, Trinity, and many more. But something that definitely does not come so swiftly to mind when considering the cultural scene of the University is art – specifically, student art.

Of course, the ridiculous number of life drawing classes, plus many an art history nerd, shows there is a healthy appetite amongst us all to engage in the creative arts – but why does this only extend to a casual Wednesday evening? It feels like an impossible task to call to mind recognised producers of art from the University population. And yet, outside the brick walls of the Cambridge colleges is a strong and bustling art world. And, more importantly, across the street from our very own St John’s College is a designated space for emerging young artists. It is a seemingly perfect opportunity for any budding Cambridge student looking to display their artwork, with minimal strings attached.

“So, why of the 170 artists that they have displayed have fewer than ten been actual Cambridge University students?”

So, why of the 170 artists that they have displayed have fewer than ten been actual Cambridge University students? When I mention to other students that “I volunteer at Gallerie V on the weekends,” 100% of the responses I get are “Where’s that?”. After the previous statistic, I am unsurprised by this, but also slightly disappointed. The gallery is a one-of-a-kind exhibition space, completely non-profit, and motivated purely by the desire to exhibit as much first-class youth art as they can – a real rarity in the world of wall-space fees and competition entry prices.

Set up back in 2021, Gallerie V has been curating seasonal exhibitions by a whole host of incredible emerging artists with the purpose of free, public exhibition. Originally, they focused on Cambridge-based talent, but very quickly transitioned to the flexible term of “must be from or reside in the UK”, giving ample chance for artists up and down the country to submit their work and be considered for the upcoming exhibit. Considering the numbers of tourists flowing through Cambridge each year, the amount of people who get the chance to witness this art is huge – again, a needle in the haystack of an opportunity for a new, budding artist.

Their Autumn exhibition Dimensions was a fascinating, youthful exploration on the concept of abstraction. The oil paintings by Jonathan Retallick and the portrait miniatures of Xu Chang absolutely shine amongst this collection; as does Amalie Jone’s take on re-envisioning the “static” space, elegantly calling to those crackling tv screens just before they turn on. What adds to the brilliance of all of their works is that they didn’t necessarily have to call themselves artists to enter or intend to sell their work; it is a space with the sole intention of displaying creative expression.

Talking to Molly Cawthorn, gallery manager and co-curator of the exhibitions, it becomes clear that the opportunity Gallerie V presents to anyone interested in presenting their art is utterly invaluable. Molly, along with the gallery founders Vienna Zhang and Samantha De Reus (Director), sees great importance in providing their exhibited artists with opportunities to engage in the art world within a professional environment. It gives them not only a network of alumni and pride in their artistic careers, but allows their ability to develop their creative potential through a structure that actively wants to help them. For any artist, the cost to exhibit can be eye-watering, so the fact that the gallery currently asks for no fee to do all of this is truly amazing, and perfect for broke students just wanting to explore their artistic styles and get into creative fields.

It strikes me that many of the discussions that Gallerie V have drawn on throughout their exhibitions, including their 2023 winter show Body and Mind or the 2022 summer exhibition Home, are conversations Cambridge students are keen to engage in and already are in other ways. We see it reflected in The Union arguments, feminist society debates, philosophical discussions, and political group functions. This continually leaves me reflecting on one key point: why aren’t Cambridge students engaging with these subjects through their art, especially when they have the perfect chance to do so through somewhere like Gallerie V? We know the painters, drawers, sculptors exist in these halls so let’s actually delve into these fascinations we already have and show it to the wider world – are we destined to be just lawyers, consultants, and finance bros?

Gallerie V presents a chance. A chance to bridge the gap and open up talks into what it means to be a young creative today. So many Cambridge students will relate to the somewhat stifling effects that the University can have on any sort of creative output, whether it’s art, literature, music, or whatever you enjoy. A breaking down of the ‘town vs gown’ attitude to all Cambridge spaces may be the requirement, but that should not sound as damning as so many students believe. All artists should have the opportunity to express themselves, even if they’re Cambridge students, and a space like Gallerie V is the ticket.