Amateur and professional artists hoping to compete for cash prizes are urged to sign up to this weekend’s WSP Art In City competitions before time runs out. WSP Art in the City celebrates creativity inspired by Gloucester’s history and heritage, its picturesque surroundings and its people. Easels and palettes will be dotted around Gloucester Cathedral and the historic Docks as promising Pablo Picassos and fledgling Frida Kahlos will be competing in the ‘Plein Air’ outdoor painting competition on Saturday 14 July. In the Open Art competition, artists will be displaying past work inside the Cathedral’s ornate cloisters for the judges’ consideration. Both contests are offering a first prize of £1,000, £500 for runners up and £250 for the student prize. There is also a family competition where a whole clan can collaborate on a piece of art! The judging panel includes art historian and BBC broadcaster, Dr Janina Ramirez; WSP Art In the City artistic director, Russell Haines; and Stroud-based abstract artist, Ed Swarez.

There are citywide artists’ exhibitions including one from former England cricketer, Jack Russell MBE (celebrating his 30^th anniversary as a professional artist), in St Michael’s Tower; a group exhibition in Debenhams, and many more in Gloucester’s shopping centres, churches and public buildings. Visit www.artinthecity.org.uk/exhibitions for the full list of artists and locations.

To keep the children happy, there are free art workshops taking place Saturday and Sunday at 38 Westgate Street (on the corner of College Court) where you can learn a whole range of artistic crafts. All workshops are free and do not require any booking – just turn up! A fabulous Artisan Street Market will pitch up in the Gate Street and feature arts, crafts, food and drink on both days.

Artistic director of the festival, Russell Haines, said: “This year’s WSP Art in the City will see Gloucester turned into one huge art space with exhibitions, competitions and workshops for everyone. I hope many people will come out in the beautiful weather (perfect light for painting!) and take part in the competitions and workshops, perhaps producing a masterpiece of this magnificent city.”

WSP Art in the City is sponsored by WSP Solicitors and organised by Marketing Gloucester as part of SoMAC – Gloucester’s Summer of Music, Arts and Culture.

 

Contestants can register at www.artinthecity.org.uk/competition.

For more information on artists involved, exhibitions, workshops and the market visit  www.artinthecity.org.uk.

 

For more information, please contact ben@marketinggloucester.co.uk.

 

ENDS.

 

 

Everything you need to know about Art In The City

Competitions

PLEIN AIR COMPETITION (OUTDOOR PAINTING) 

Whether it’s iconic landmarks such as the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral, the picturesque Victorian Docks, or street scenes of everyday life, artists will be competing in this exciting event for all to see.

The finished pieces will be displayed in an exhibition with judges awarding prizes to the best work for each category. Contestants’ artwork will be judged by the panel on the evening of Saturday 14 July 2018. The judges will be looking at which artworks best capture the spirit of the city.

 

Winner £1000

Runner up £500

Student £250

 

OPEN ART COMPETITION 

Anybody can enter this competition and each artist can submit up to 3 entries, as long as they have been completed within the last 3 years. The pieces can be any theme or medium and all submissions will be displayed in Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters and Cloister Gardens, depending on the weather.

 

Winner £1000

Runner Up £500

Student £250

 

FAMILY COMPETITION

All new for WSP Art In The City 2018, an exciting new category – the family category. It invites families to participate in the creation of a piece of art, contestants can either create one piece between the whole family or each individual family member can create their own piece and the pieces will be judged collectively. There will be prizes of £25 Gift Cards for the 10 best entries.

 

COMMUNITY COMPETITION

Another exciting new category for this year is the Community Group Competition – a chance for 15 community groups to create an artwork with the theme “My Community”

They have been given FREE materials courtesy of Gloucester City Council, Marketing Gloucester and Jackson’s Art Supplies and will compete to win the £500 prize for the best entry.

Cllr Jennie Watkins, who came up with the idea, will announce the winner on the evening Saturday 14th July at the Ivor Gurney Hall (Kings School).

 

EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS

A full list and a map can be found in the accompanying leaflet.