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RAMM LOCAL ART SHOW Where to see the art
LOCAL ART SHOW RAMM’s Local Art Show is back and drum roll...here are the finalists! (and all the information on where to see the art and how to vote!)
RAMM’s (Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery) annual Local Art Show has returned, giving art groups and societies from Exeter and the surrounding area the chance to exhibit their work in an exhibition. Not familiar with the competition? RAMM asks local art groups to submit a body of work, this year’s theme is RAMM and its collections, finalists are chosen and then the public – that’s you – vote for the art group that you like the best. The winning group then has their art work exhibited at RAMM. The emphasis on supporting local talent is central to the show, hence why Exeter Living has jumped onboard to support and run the competition this year.
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“With the annual Local Art Show we aim to recognise, reward and foster creativity, and I am always impressed by the variety and quality of local art,” says Rachel Sutton, Exeter’s deputy leader and lead councillor for climate & culture.
“This year, the artworks were inspired by RAMM and its collections giving broad scope for the imagination. We are very grateful to Exeter Living for supporting the 2020 competition and I look forward to another stunning show.”
So, Exeter people. If you’re keen on art, and feel strongly about supporting local artists like we do, feast your eyes on the art and get voting!
Who are the finalists? The three Devon art groups competing for the Exeter Living Local Art Show 2020 are: Double Elephant Print Workshop, Magic Carpet and Topsham Art Group.
DOUBLE ELEPHANT PRINT WORKSHOP Double Elephant is a fine art printmaking workshop, which provides resources, tuition and support to complete beginners and experienced artists alike. Their ethos is one of continuous creative learning and development with a commitment to helping everyone reach the very highest standards.
Here’s what they had to say: “We have 100 full and associate members and tutor 300 learners each year from across Exeter and Devon which should ensure that, if successful, our exhibition will attract good audiences from a wide area. Visitors will find a varied and enjoyable range of work, covering a wide scope of subjects and techniques, and demonstrating the high level of skill our artists achieve.
We are about to make a major expansion of our facilities to provide more activity in Exeter, particularly around creativity and health and wellbeing. Winning this competition in 2020 would be an amazing way to celebrate this and reach new audiences for our work.” www.doubleelephant.org.uk
MAGIC CARPET Magic Carpet is a charity which has been running in Exeter and East Devon for nearly 40 years. As a charity, they passionately believe that everyone should have access to the arts in order to enrich their lives.
Here’s what they had to say: “In these changing times, we feel that the arts have an important role to play, both in expression and as an alternative to traditional health care. We work with communities united by ability, geography and circumstances, including people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. We also work with those using services at Hospiscare, Haldon Eating Disorder Unit and a charity called Living with Aphasia. Participants in these groups could be you or me. The sessions are therapeutic but they also provide a new way for people to express themselves.
This exhibition would give all of our participants an opportunity to see themselves as valued artists. We want the wider population of Exeter to see and understand what we do. This opportunity will enable people to
gain a greater awareness of how the arts can benefit health. We should win this competition in order to showcase the work of our participants, whose diverse lives are often restricted by health or social circumstances.” www.magiccarpet-arts.co.uk
TOPSHAM ART GROUP Topsham Art Group (TAG) has around 150 members who meet once a month for lectures and demonstrations. A Summer Exhibition of the members’ work is held over two weeks in August which usually attracts in excess of 1000 visitors many of whom come from outside the local area.
Here’s what they had to say: “This year’s theme is an excellent opportunity to explore the vast range of the RAMM’s collections and to represent them in novel and exciting ways. We also want to show their connection to the public, especially children. The extensive collections in RAMM reflect the development of human and animal evolution as well as the enormous diversity of human cultures and the beauty and richness of the natural world. With the increasing pressures of population expansion, climate change and political action, the RAMM’s collections provide an important reminder of what we humans are doing to our planet. If successful in this competition, TAG will try to convey some of this huge theme through a wide range of media.
We hope that this will encourage more local people to take up art as a relaxing and rewarding pastime and to come and visit our highlyacclaimed City Museum and to appreciate its contribution to public life in Exeter. www.topshamartgroup.co.uk
The Window of Wonders by Gill Fitzpatrick, Topsham Art Group
Where can I see the art of the finalists? Ten pieces from each finalist will be on RAMM’s website: www.rammuseum.org.uk/exeterliving-local-art-show-2020
How can I vote? Please send your nomination to localartshow@mediaclash.co.uk Please put the name of the group you would like to win in the subject line. What is the deadline for voting? The voting runs from 6 March until 3 April.
When will the winner be announced? 17 April – on RAMM’S website and on their social media platforms.
When can I see the art? The winning group will display their work at RAMM from 20 May to 17 June.
