198 Contemporary Arts and Learning

The organisation, originally named Roots Community, was founded in 1988 by John "Noel" Morgan and Zoe Lindsay-Thomas. Lindsay-Thomas was a minicab driver and Morgan was manager of the Vargus Social Club in Landor Road. The organisation eventually changed its name to 198 Gallery, after its location on Railton Road. 198's initial remit was to promote the work of contemporary African, Caribbean and Asian artists whose work represented the diversity of British society. 198 later expanded their policy to include artists from outside the UK.