The Brixton Artists Collective was a group of artists based in Brixton, London, who ran the Brixton Art Gallery (BAG) from 1983 to 1990. History 1983 The Brixton Artists Collective took a short lease on an empty carpet shop in Atlantic Road, Brixton, London, in June 1983. The three arches were spacious if a little damp. They allowed huge shows to take place which were decided by an open collective of 20 to 50 people. The only membership requirement was that you should simply turn up. Later a voluntary administrator, Andrew Hurman with the help of a committed core of directors, brought some stability to the place for a few more years. Membership cost a concessionary rate of £2 per year. There were open-themed shows such as the 1984 Show as well as shows made by groups with a shared identity. By October 1983, more than 200 artists had the opportunity to show their work. The first nationally selected exhibition of Work by Gay Women & Men was held as part of the GLC September in the Pink Festival in 1983. Curated by Ian Rogers and Bruce Currie, it was a ground-breaking event. Further shows were held in 1984, 1986, 1991 and 1992, with Eamon Andrews, Guy Burch, Svar Simpson, Mandy McCartin and Christina Berry as co-ordinators. A women's group, Women's Work, formed as soon as the gallery started in the summer of 1983, putting on its first show at the end of November that year. Key members included Rita Keegan, Kate Hayes, Teri Bullen, Roxanne Permar. The group put on annual shows which included more than a hundred women. By the end of its first four shows, 172 women had exhibited. After the second year they self-published a book recording their work. The group was allocated two shows per year in the gallery. 1984 In 1984 the group decided one of those exhibitions should be of work by black women artists. A separate Black Women artists group was formed in 1984 and held their first exhibition, Mirror Reflecting Darkly in June–July 1985. The featured artists included: Brenda Agard, Zarina Bhimji, Jennifer Comrie, Novette Cummings, Valentina Emenyeoni, Carole Enahoro, Elisabeth Jackson, Lallitha Jawahirilal, Rita Keegan, Christine Luboga, Sue Macfarlane, Olusola Oyeleye, Betty Vaughan Richards, Enoyte Wanagho and Paula Williams. Fertile Eye, the second of the exhibitions organised by the Women's Work group, was held at the gallery in May 1984