The Guernsey Arts Open: SUBMISSIONS OPEN
The island’s largest annual showcase of local artistic talent is back once again, with submissions now invited.
It’s free to enter and aims to celebrate creativity and provide a platform for artists to exhibit their work.
The event, organised by Guernsey Arts, has grown significantly, with previous years involving over 100 artists, providing a mix of established and new, emerging talent.
According to Jared Fox, who handles visual design & communications for Guernsey Arts, the show is continuing to grow.
“The last few years we have had over 100 artists involved, so the numbers have really shot up from when it started out, which were in the 60s.”
Mr Fox continued: “What we’re finding as well is that it’s a really good way for artists to be able to, you know, show their work off with other people who are just new and emerging, or some that are already really well established.”
The Arts Open is known for its wide variety of mediums, and accepts submissions including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textiles, illustration, graphics, digital art, and film.
The event is open to all resident artists in Guernsey, regardless of age or experience, and designed to be a supportive, low-pressure environment for artists to get their work out there, forge new connections within the local art scene, and gain confidence.
Mr Fox says they’ve already had a few pieces through the door, a surprise when it comes to creatives who have a deadline of October.
“We’ve had 12 entries already, which is phenomenal for people, for artists, when there’s the deadline in October, we usually see a lot of them come in at the last minute, not to say that that’s encouraged. It’s less work for me to do all at once.”
He added: “I’m really hoping that we get similar numbers (to last year), because it really does just show off the variety and the amount of people that are keen to get involved.”
Mr Fox said it provides a chance for the public to see and purchase works created by local talent.
“It’s an opportunity for everyone, not only to exhibit their work, but also for people to come and see the artwork produced by local artists or people who have just moved over, but also even buy them.
“Most of the pieces are for sale with a percentage of that being invested straight back into Guernsey arts. So not only would you be supporting a local artist, and doing wonders for their confidence, but also investing straight back into the charity that puts it on.”
The submission deadline for the Arts Open is on the 5 October, with the final exhibition likely to take place in late November and run through December, at the George Crossan Gallery in the Market Buildings.
For anyone thinking of entering, but isn’t quite committed yet, Mr Fox’s message is simple. Just start.
“I’d say just to do it. There’s a lot of people that I’ve met while putting on the exhibition who say, ‘I’ve got artwork that I don’t really know what to do with’, and yeah, it’s a great way to get your work out there in a relatively low pressure environment.”
Entries can be submitted by 2025 Guernsey Arts Open - Submission Form or contacting the team on info@arts.gg or 01481 220711
