A popular West End art gallery is to repeat its foray into Hamilton after a successful pop-up venue in the city during the holiday season saved it from “another dismal December”.

The Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard is to hold a fundraiser in Washington Mall on January 28.

The event will feature six-inch by six-inch paintings/multimedia with each piece priced at $66.

Gallery administrator Heidi Cowen said the Arts Centre will also hold a holiday season pop-up gallery again this year.

Last month, the pop-up next to Harbourmaster on the lower level of Washington Mall was open from December 1-24.

Ms Cowen said: “We decided to try this venture for the first time this year, and we are certainly glad that we did. While Dockyard was busy during the weekends, the weekdays only saw a handful of people.

“The past two years have taught us a thing or two. Most importantly, gone are the days that one can sit back and wait for customers to come.

“Hamilton, although quieter than in past years, proved to provide the hustle and bustle that one would expect for a holiday season.

“We had many of our visitors stop and thank us for moving to a more central location.

“Hamilton saved the Bermuda Arts Centre from another dismal December.”

Ms Cowen said the pop-up venue was staffed by volunteer artists who are members of the Arts Centre.

She added: “The shop helped to pull us even closer as all realised that December was the time to try and make sales to give us a step towards what will now be a bitter, quiet winter ahead.

“It also gave the artists more of an appreciation of what it takes to make a gallery work.

“Often being 'all the way in Dockyard' leads to locals not even knowing that we exist. I used to say that you have to be in business for at least 20 years for locals to know you exist. We've been around for 38, so it must be 40.

“At any rate, our exposure to the public was invaluable. We support approximately 100 artists and our shop showcased a little bit of everyone.”

Ms Cowen said the Arts Centre will continue to be located at Royal Naval Dockyard.

She said: “Would we consider moving to Hamilton full time? No. This was a one-off 'event'.

“We feel it was a success in the fact that it was a 'pop-up shop'. Customers supported us for the season and reason.

“We love our home in Dockyard and plan to stay here for as many years as possible.

“We do realise that locals like central and so we move our shows and fundraisers to various parts of the island to provide the best possible exposure to our artists.”

Ms Cowen added: “We thank the Washington Mall for supporting us and offering a wonderful space, our artists for their constant support and to everyone that came in to support local art.”

The Bermuda Arts Centre at Royal Naval Dockyard remains open daily from 11am until 4pm.