Barnaby 2016 seeks Macclesfield artists

Barnaby Art is planning an ambitious Visual Arts programme for the next Barnaby Festival in 2016, presenting new commissions by invited artists of national and international renown.  The Festival also has a track record of supporting locally based artists and the new Open Commissions funded with support from Arts Council England are a exciting development focusing on Macclesfield’s artist community.

The Barnaby Festival 2016 theme is SPACE in its widest interpretation, but influenced by the Lovell Telescope at nearby Jodrell Bank and by the articulation of ‘place’.  This resonates with Barnaby’s continued focus on Macclesfield town centre, which, having no formal space to show contemporary art, provides the backdrop to the Festival and venues for artworks and events.

Barnaby Art is now inviting submissions from artists and curators based in the Macclesfield and surrounding villages for new site-specific artwork, to be presented in and amongst the town centre heritage buildings, retail and disused spaces. A small number of awards of between £300 and £1000 will be made toward the successful proposals, with support for their delivery on hand from the Barnaby Art team.

Elizabeth Cookson, Barnaby Festival Visual Arts Director said “We look forward to receiving a rich variety of art proposals from Macclesfield-based artists which will not only engage with the Festival’s ‘space’ theme, but also challenge and delight visitors”.  The panel of selectors will include Kwong Lee, Director, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester and the Barnaby Festival Director.

To apply, artists or curators should send a written proposal, including details of the proposed site, budget, details of any other commissions undertaken, together with a statement of the artist’s practice, a recent CV and up to 5 artwork images (labelled).  Proposals should be emailed to art@barnabyfestival.org.uk by 5pm, Friday 17 July.

Main image: Inside out house by Hilary Jack. Photo courtesy Fiona Bailey