A new gallery has opened in Oxford which will showcase the work of artists from across the county.

The new Gloucester Green Gallery is already booked up for all of 2001 by local artists and arts organisations.

The first exhibition is by Helen Edwards, whose display of water-colours and photography can be viewed until Saturday, February 24. It began last Thursday, February 8.

The gallery - which adjoins the Old Fire Station studio theatre and music venue - will receive its official launch on Saturday, March 3, when a two-week exhibition by pupils from Oxford schools begins.

Al Williams, arts and heritage manager for Oxford City Council, said: "It's completely booked up for this year. The space is being offered free to the local artists.

"The idea has been floating about for a very long time. We have been looking for a space to provide a community gallery. This is the first opportunity we have had.

"We would much prefer something bigger, but given the difficulty of getting hold of adequate space this is the best we can do."

Among the forthcoming highlights at the gallery will be an exhibition by members of Oxford Art Society throughout April, and exhibitions of work by the Oxford branch of the Embroiderers' Guild.

The gallery space was provided thanks to the city council's partnership with Apollo Leisure, which provides venues for the arts.

**The city council has also produced a catalogue of exhibition spaces in Oxford for local artists. For information on this, or the gallery, contact arts development officer Neil Smith on 01865 252707, or arts and heritage manager Al Williams on 01865 252829.