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ArtsKeele news
Three Counties Open Art 2020 -
Virtual Art Exhibition
The Three Counties Open Art
exhibition usually takes place in the
beautiful and historic Burslem School
of Art throughout July and August.
The show offers a platform for artists
based in Staffordshire, Cheshire and
Shropshire. This year, due to Covid-19,
rather than cancelling the summer
show, the decision was made to create
our first virtual exhibition. Viewing
art online is never as good as in 'real
life', however it is important to keep
the momentum going and to offer the
opportunity to those artists who wish to
participate in this annual show.
The gallery was officially opened,
and a range of awards announced
at a virtual launch event on Friday
31st July to over 100 guests. The
exhibition featured a wide range of
pieces from145 artists, including
a whole section of work created
during lockdown or inspired by the
Covid-19 pandemic. We also received
submissions from current students and
alumni including one all the way from
Australia!
Winners of top prizes the Three
Counties 1st Place Award and the
Prestigious Arthur Berry Prize were
Philip Johnson with his joyous portrait
Piper and Chris Moult with his quirky
character painting Conna, Wonna,
Dunna.
Other prizes included:
Burslem School of Art Award – Peter
Davis Wetin Day
Keele University Young Artist Award –
Carly Broomfield Little Grandad
North Staffordshire Friends of the
Earth Sustainability Prize – Angela
McGourlay Something in the Water
(Part 2)
Three Counties 2nd Place Award –
Lisa Goodridge Wales #3
Three Counties 3rd Place Award –
Karen Wise Gardeners at Work
We have also introduced a new
Audience Choice Award this year
in partnership with Appetite, our
local Creative People and Places
programme. Visitors to the exhibition
were invited to cast their vote to
choose their favourite piece of art from
a shortlist of 20.
The Three Counties Open virtual show
continues online until 30th September
2020 and was organised over six
'rooms'. To visit the virtual exhibition,
click here.
Heritage Open Days 2020
Keele University and ArtsKeele are
excited to take part in the annual
'Heritage Open Days' between 11th-
20th September 2020.
Heritage Open Days is England’s
annual celebration of local history,
architecture and culture. It’s a once-ayear
chance to uncover and discover
hidden treasures and rarely told stories.
As part of the festival, ArtsKeele have
created a virtual heritage tour of Keele
Hall, which will be shared during the
festival week for visitors to explore. In
addition, visitors can take a self-guided
Keele University Heritage Trail across
the Keele University grounds.
More information about Heritage Open
Days and the downloadable Heritage
Trail Guide can be found by visiting:
www.keele.ac.uk/discover/artskeele/
whatson/hiddentreasures/heritage/
We will be announcing additions
to the ArtsKeele programme over
the coming months so please check
in at www.keele.ac.uk/artskeele or
follow @ArtsKeele on social media
(Instagram,Twitter and Facebook).