Open Art in Beverley and Goole 2020

The popular Open Art competitions at Beverley Art Gallery and at Goole Museum will be different in 2020, because of the continuing impact of the changes caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Beverley Art Gallery

Unfortunately, Beverley Art Gallery has had to take the difficult decision not to run Open Art in 2020. Curator Helena Cox explained: “For Beverley Art Gallery, the Open Art is one of the most eagerly expected events of the year. We love welcoming artists' submissions from all over the region, and we take great pride in the brilliant and varied artwork created by all submitting artists! We have a different selection committee each year to ensure that we adhere to the highest standards when choosing the artwork for our displays. Seeing the gallery coming alive with artwork from artists near and far in the region is one of the greatest joys of our visitors and staff alike.

“We are therefore very disappointed that we won't be able to run the Open Art competition this year. We feel strongly that the safety of all our visitors and artists is absolutely paramount, and not taking any unnecessary risks is the right thing to do. All the more we want to encourage artists to get creative, because we will be back next year! We live in complicated times, but difficulty can sometimes be greatly inspiring to artists.

“I would therefore like to encourage all artists to keep creating, keep reflecting the world we live in in your brilliant work - and it won't take long for the Open Art to be back! I'm already now looking forward to welcoming all creatives as well as all our visitors to the Open Art next year - and of course our usual Beverley entrants are welcome to enter the Goole Open Art this year".

Goole Museum:

For Goole’s 7th Annual Open Art 2020, instead of the usual dropping off days and independent judges, this year everyone’s work will be included (although there will be limitations on what can be shown, and no explicit content will be allowed).

Goole Museum curator Debbie Hardy explained: “This year, Open Art will not only be in our gallery, but on our website and Facebook pages as well.

“There are three different ways to enter, and where possible we want to involve you in the curation of the exhibition.

“For those who are happy to visit the museum there are two choices. You can deliver your work and leave the display decisions to us; or you can bring in your artistic creations and work alongside us to decide where or how to display it. Social distancing and maximum occupancy rules will of course be adhered to.

“If an actual visit to our site is not for you, then you can send us a digital version of your work. These will be screened in a slideshow within the museum and also included in the online gallery and our website. Depending on the dimensions of the work, we may print it out at up to A3 size and use our own frames to include it in the physical exhibition.

“Also new to this year’s show, we would like to include your own description of the work or something about yourself. What inspired you to create it? Why do you make art? This bit is not compulsory, so don’t let it put you off!

“This approach is completely new, so please be patient when you do submit your entries!”

Open Art will take entries from 1 September and the exhibition will run to the end of the year. The team at Goole Museum are really keen for new art to be regularly added to the exhibition, so entries can be submitted throughout this time.

To find out more, please visit www.eastridingmuseums.co.uk  

The email address for digital entries will be goole.museum@eastriding.gov.uk and the online gallery will be found at www.facebook.com/EastRidingMuseums