The Ferens Art Gallery is calling for submissions from professional and amateur artists for the 2018 Open Exhibition.
Whether you are a seasoned exhibitor or entering for the very first time, if youd like your work to be seen by thousands of people, or to sell, then the Ferens Open is the platform for you.
All UK artists aged 16 or above can enter and are eligible to submit up to three pieces of work for consideration between Monday 23 October and Sunday 12 November using an online application form. Works will then be selected by a panel of specialist judges from the arts sector (to be announced).
Ferens 2018 Open Exhibition will be the first of the years new programming following the Turner Prize. Chosen artworks will be on display from Saturday 17 February until Sunday 22 April 2018.
This is a unique opportunity for artists to show their work alongside internationally significant examples from the Ferens permanent collection, such as Pietro Lorenzettis panel painting of Christ between Saints Paul and Peter, c.1320 and the final photographs of the Sea of Hull installation by Spencer Tunick.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure and Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “The annual Open Exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery has celebrated the creativity of local amateur and professional artists since 1967 and it is important that we offer this regular opportunity to showcase exceptional local and regional talent.
The diversity of the content and of the artists who submit work for the Open is its hallmark and I would urge local artists to get creative and have a go.
Kirsten Simister, Curator of Art at Ferens Art Gallery, said: With over 1,700 submissions and 331 works on display, we had an incredible response to the 2017 Open Exhibition and I am confident 2018 will be just as good.
The Open Exhibition draws thousands of visitors each year and is a major highlight of the gallerys programme. We are looking forward to receiving submissions from not only well-established artists but new and emerging talent, to create an exciting and thought-provoking exhibition.
Prizes are on offer for the chosen works, which have been kindly donated by Friends of the Ferens and BSB Architecture, they include:
Friends of the Ferens Award: Awards of 1st prize £250, 2nd Prize £150 and 3rd Prize £100. The winners will be selected by the Friends of the Ferens Board.
Student Award: £150 will go to the best student entry and will be chosen by local company BSB Architecture.
Council Cup Award: £100 prize selected by Councillor Terry Geraghty, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure.
It costs £5 to submit each piece of work and the work must have been created within the last 12 months. Only successful artists will be required to deliver their artwork to the gallery and will be notified by email once the judges have made their selection.
All artists will be notified of the selectors decision by email and will be asked to deliver the artwork to the gallery from Saturday 27 January – Sunday 4 February 2018.
Free IT and photography workshops will be available to help with registering and submitting work using the new online system. These workshops will take place on:
Open Exhibition IT workshop – Central Library, IT suite
Wednesday 25 October, 20 minute slots between available 1.30 and 3.50pm
Wednesday 1 November, 20 minute slots between available 3 and 4.40pm
Wednesday November 8, 20 minute slots between available 1.30 and 3.50pm
These simple IT sessions are designed for artists not familiar with using computers, the internet or email. Staff are able to guide you through the process of submitting your artwork online for the 2018 Open exhibition.
The workshop covers how to:
get online
set up an email account (if you do not currently have an email account, please set one up in advance of the workshop if you are able to do so)
fill in and submit the Open Exhibition online application (if you have already taken images of your artwork
then please bring these with you on a disc, USB stick or your camera or phone and connecting cables)
To reserve a place on one of these workshops telephone 01482 614 293 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Places are strictly limited.
Open Exhibition photography and submissions workshop
Times – 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.15 to 3.15pm
Friday 27 October at the Hull History Centre
Saturday 28 October at the Wilberforce House Education Room
Friday 3 November at the Hull History Centre
Saturday 4 November at the Wilberforce House Education Room
These group sessions are designed to help any Open Exhibition applicants who may need additional support with submitting their applications in the new digital format with a focus on taking and submitting digital images.
Each session will last up to 60 minutes they can cover all or some of the following areas –
taking good quality digital photographs of your artwork (please bring any small and easily transportable submissions with you and these can be photographed during your timeslot)
uploading digital images from your camera or phone and saving them to your computer
uploading images from your computer onto the Open Exhibition online application form
setting up an email account
filling in and submitting the Open Exhibition online application (if you have already taken images of your artwork then please bring these with you on a disc, USB stick or your camera or phone and connecting cables)
To reserve a place on one of these workshops, please call Heritage Learning on 01482 318 733 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Places are strictly limited.
For more information on submitting your artwork, visit https://www.hull.gov.uk/resident/culture/ferens-art-gallery-open-exhibition-2018
https://www.hull.gov.uk/resident/culture/ferens-art-gallery-open-exhibition-2018