Artistic appreciation

Celebrate the finest arts across a whole spectrum of mediums at this year’s Annual Open Exhibition in Exeter.

The South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts is a registered arts education charity, promoting the creation and appreciation of Fine and Applied Arts across the south west. As part of its exhibition programme, the Academy welcomes national and regional artists to exhibit with the Academicians for the Annual Open Exhibition, held in the prestigious Exeter Castle from 11th until 23rd November.

“public entries will join the members to celebrate excellence in art across a whole spectrum of mediums”

A Selection Panel decides which of the public entries will join the members to celebrate excellence in art across a whole spectrum of mediums, ensuring that only the very best are on display. Academy members are elected by the Trustees on the basis of their outstanding contribution to the arts and their significant, sustained accomplishment across a diverse range of practices. Indeed, as well as regional recognition, many of the Academicians are well known across the globe, including Alan Cotton, June Arnold, Laurel Keeley, Ray Balkwill, Wendy McBride and James Tatum.

The exhibition is set to be opened by renowned actress and singer, Maria Friedman – a West End star, producer and three-times winner of the much-coveted Oliver Award – which is especially fitting with one of this year’s special features, ‘A Celebration of Women’. This will be held in Exeter Castle’s ballroom and will mark the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage by celebrating the work of the Academy’s women artists. As part of this, there will be a talk on the work of Olive Hockin – an artist, author, arsonist and extraordinary suffragette – on 17th November at 2.30pm and is certainly not to be missed!

The Academy holds several exhibitions each year and also provides workshops for children, young people and adults, as well as demonstrations and exhibition walk-through tours and talks.

So, if you’re planning your autumn-winter itinerary and would like to join in celebrating some of Devon art scene’s biggest movers and shakers, be sure to pencil in the Annual Open Exhibition.

DISCOVER MORE

All exhibition work will be for sale, along with a selection of prints, cards and books. Entry is free, but as a registered charity, the Academy welcomes donations to support the continuation of its educational work.