Talented crafters could see their creations exhibited at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, after it launched a West Midlands-wide competition for makers to showcase their work. Craft Open West Midlands is the first open event to be held at the Lichfield Street gallery and organisers are looking for both professional and hobbyist crafters to submit their work. The autumn exhibition will embrace a wide range of contemporary craft practice, reflecting the vibrant talent of the regional craft industry.
Craft Open West Midlands will take submissions from all makers living in the West Midlands region, including Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Entrants can submit up to three original works, made since January 2014 in the form of automata, ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, ceramics, furniture, metal, plastics, textiles and wood. Fine art, photography and print-making are not eligible.
Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Craft Open West Midlands gives both professional and amateur crafters the chance to showcase their work in a superb gallery space.
“This is the first competition of its kind, which will highlight the wealth of skilled makers in the region.”
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, June 27, 2016 and successful applicants will hear if their work has been selected by Friday, July 29 ahead of the launch and prize-giving on Saturday, September 17. The winning works will be exhibited at the gallery until Sunday, November 6.
As well as having work exhibited in the gallery the overall winner will receive £500, and the innovation winner and student winner will each get £250.
Entrants need to send a maximum of two images per piece of work no larger than 1mb and submissions will be charged at £10 for one work, £15 for two and £20 for three, to cover administration and set-up costs.