East Sussex artists are being invited to apply now for the 2013 open submission exhibition at Eastbourne’s award-winning contemporary art museum, Towner.
Returning for its fourth year, the popular East Sussex Open 2013 is open to artists and makers working in any media who live or work in the East Sussex region, including Brighton and Hove.
The exhibition is designed to showcase the wealth of artistic talent across our own region, and attracts both established and up and coming artists keen to expand their portfolio by exhibiting in a leading public gallery. Previous contributors have included Judith Alder and Felicity Truscott who were recently shortlisted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012, Will Nash who has just completed a public art commission for Chelsea Academy, and Alison Bettles who went on to exhibit at The Photographers’ Gallery. Successful applicants will see their works on display in Towner from 9 March – 28 April next year.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure Cllr Carolyn Heaps said “The East Sussex Open has proved to be such a popular exhibition and a fantastic showcase for the wonderful talent we have in the region. This year we had 160 entries from both established and emerging artists with 33 eventually selected for the exhibition – an amazing springboard for upcoming artists!”
It is hoped submissions will include a wide selection of visual art in every medium, with previous exhibitions including large scale sculptures and a video installation showing iconic landmarks along the South coast from a swimmer’s perspective, as well as a toilet made of chocolate.
Judges are hoping to see even more entries for the 2013 exhibition and are encouraging works of all sizes to be submitted to make the most of the vast gallery space available, which is the largest in the South East.
Exhibitions Curator Sanna Moore will once again lead the judging panel, and joining her will be guest selectors, artists Alessandro Raho and Susan Diab. Both artists have a wealth of experience with Raho’s works featured all around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Berado Collection in Lisbon and a commission of Dame Judi Dench for the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Brighton-based Susan Diab has developed a strong regional career profile working as a freelance artist and collaborating on a number of projects including public commissions, artist-led initiatives, outreach projects and open studios. Her work has appeared in many galleries across the UK including Towner and Turner Contemporary in Margate.
Interested artists must complete an application form to include images and details of up to five pieces of work that they would like to be considered together with a CV and Artist’s Statement before 4pm on Sunday 6 January 2013.
For more information and to download an application form visit www.townereastbourne.org.uk or call 01323 434670.
