Three Counties Open Art Exhibition 2024
Saturday 27th July - Saturday 24th August 2024. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 3pm.

This year’s Three Counties Open Art exhibition is once again welcomed into the stunning Burslem School of Art. We received a record number of entries this year - a total of 268 individual submissions, which were short-listed to 98 artists for the exhibition. This year’s judges were: Appetite Supper Club, Anna Francis, Amanda Bromley, Manish Harijan, Dan Southward and ArtsKeele. Three Counties Open Art celebrates contemporary local artists, from emerging to established practitioners. Complimentary to the exhibition, this year there is a series of free public workshops happening over the summer.  

Although there are no set themes upon entering, common ideas and contexts unquestionably emerge from our shared experiences. Identity, our connections with the more-than-human-worlds, sentiments of place and heritage, and total escapism from all the above materialise across different disciplines, mediums, and processes. Art as a tool for expression has never been more needed.  

Featuring artists from Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire, the exhibition spans across various a range of mediums and 5 rooms inside the school: from painting to printmaking, drawing, photography, sculpture, textiles, moving image and installation-based works - the breadth of work shows only a small selection of the creativity of the area. In addition, there will be a wonderful display of artwork from local schools, including students from Haywood Academy, Trentham Academy and Smallthorne Primary School.  

We worked with a student curator, Paige Sutton, from Staffordshire University Fine Art to support the team in the organisation and curation of work for the 2024 exhibition. Alongside this, we have a team of technicians and volunteers who will be on-site during the summer, welcoming visitors to the exhibition. 

There are several awards, which will be announced on an Awards Evening taking place during the summer. The awards selection panel included young people from C&A Foundation alongside Katey Goodwin from ArtUK, members of Appetite’s Supper Club, artist Terry Shave, Dr. Szu Shen Wong and Dr. Pawas Bisht from the Keele Institute of Sustainable Futures, Theresa Heskins from the New Vic Theatre Archive Fund, Errol Francis from Culture&, Urban Wilderness and artist Manish Harijan. Visitors can vote for their favourite artwork as part of the Appetite People’s Prize during the summer both at the exhibition and online.  

The Three Counties Open Art is organised in partnership with: ArtsKeele at Keele University; Appetite; Barewall Gallery; Burslem School of Art Trust; Character & Arts Foundation; City Learning Trust; ACAVA Spode Works. With special thanks to our awards sponsors – ACAVA, Appetite, Barewall Art Gallery, Burslem School of Art Trust, City Learning Trust, Keele University, North Staffordshire Friends of the Earth, New Vic Theatre Archive Fund and Urban Wilderness. 

We are grateful to Val and Chris Ensor for their generous support which has enabled us to expand our community workshop and participation programme in 2024.  

Free and open to all.

ACCESS: The School of Art building is an accessible space, with ramp access to the front of the building and lift access throughout. Due to the age of the building the building has uneven floors which can feel slightly odd to walk upon in places but they do not cause restriction with wheelchair access or pushchairs. 

PARKING: There is a small car park to the rear of the School of Art building which is located just off Cleveland Street/ Bourne Bank (please note if you park here vehicles will need to be removed at 3pm prompt otherwise they may get locked in when we close the site). Additional parking can be found along Queen St, please take note of on street parking restrictions and payment meters; outside Burslem Town Hall on Market Place (ticket machine), there is a Long Stay car park on Chapel Lane, ST6 2AB a short walk away from the School of Art building. 

*Please note we are now back in the School of Art building on Queen Street in Burslem!

 

 

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