Black Swan Arts is now calling for entries to its hugely successful Young Open 2020 competition which will be on show at the Frome-based arts centre later this year.
The Young Open, now in its seventh year, provides an exceptional opportunity for young people between the ages of 8 and 19 to have their work curated, judged and exhibited in Black Swan Arts’ Long Gallery, Round Tower and cafe and for hundreds of visitors to see.
Winners have the chance to take part in a small group workshop with a professional artist. The Workshop Prize is a unique element of the Young Open, with local working artists and craftspeople offering individual workshop prizes. Each of the sessions is carefully tailored to develop the skills and broaden the artistic abilities of the winners in each of the three categories. Winners will also receive prizes kindly donated by local Frome businesses including Choc et al, Hunting Raven, Nook, Postscript, River House, Strada, Studio Prints and Wellsway Cinema.
The Young Open competition demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Black Swan Arts to the development of local artistic talent and to building strong links with the community. In the seven years since the competition was launched, it has proven to be enormously popular with young artists, their families, schools and the general public: over 1,200 works of art have been entered and more than 900 young artists have taken part; 150 schools, clubs and youth groups have been involved; and the five exhibitions to date have received over 9,000 visitors.
Submissions in all forms of art and craft are welcome, including painting, drawing, collage, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, photography, video/animation, metalwork, carpentry and sculpture. The cost is £5 for one entry, £8 for two entries, £10 for three entries and £12 for four entries. The deadline for entries is 22 February. Entry is online www.blackswanarts.org.uk.
The exhibition will continue from 21 March to 25 April at Black Swan Arts.
If you have any questions about the competition, please visit www.blackswanarts.org.uk or contact Black Swan Arts by telephone on 01373 473980 or email at exhibitions@blackswanarts.org.uk.
Picture: Young Open winner Charlie Matthews with her winning entry Octo-plasty in last year’s 12–15-year-old category (Photo by Dan Hopkins).
