Hertfordshire Open 2020 exhibition Launches Online 50 Artists - 80 Stunning Works – The First Hertfordshire Open
The first Hertfordshire Open Exhibition, due to have opened at St Albans Museum + Gallery, launches online in a new digital format. The exhibition is a celebration of art in all its mediums, including painting, sculpture, print, film and photography, and forms part of a wider offer to help people access the arts from home.
Over 180 artists with links to Hertfordshire submitted their work to be part of the inaugural exhibition. Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the exhibition features 80 stunning works by the 50 selected artists, creating an exciting mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors.
The online galleries will be launched in phases over a period of 10 days at www.uharts.co.uk and www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk starting on Friday 3 April. Commenting on the exhibition, Head of UH Arts, Annabel Lucas, said:
“We are so pleased to be able to still deliver the Hertfordshire Open and to give people access to the arts as they stay at home. You’ll see art you love, art that makes you smile and art that really makes you think. We are grateful to all of the artists who submitted their work and were overwhelmed by the quality and variety of the submissions which have helped to create a truly exciting exhibition.”
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Sport for St Albans City and District Council, said:
“St Albans Museum + Gallery has put art, culture and heritage at the heart of our community. In this unprecedented time, I am delighted to see that the museum’s partnership with UH Arts continues to innovate in order to keep bringing great art to the community. This online exhibition looks to be a wonderfully varied showcase of the very best talent working in the region.”
The Hertfordshire Open 2020 is the seventh partnership project between St Albans Museum + Gallery and UH Arts, the University of Hertfordshire’s arts and cultural programme. The partnership has already secured a number of firsts - the first exhibition outside of London in 2018 for Hayward Gallery’s touring exhibition Hand Drawn and Action Packed, and last year thousands of visitors flocked to see Barbara Hepworth: Artist in Society 1948-53 – an exhibition which explored a significant period in the life of one of Britain’s most celebrated artists and saw several of her works united for the very first time.
For further press information or images please contact Hayley Lewis on 01707 286065 or email h.lewis4@herts.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
Hertfordshire Open 2020 Exhibition
Online at www.uharts.co.uk and www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk from Friday 3 April.
The judging panel: Phil Healey, Dean of the School of Creative Arts and Annabel Lucas, Head of UH Arts (University of Hertfordshire); Liz West practicing artist and Maurice Davies, Former Head of Collections at the Royal Academy of Arts.
The online exhibition is sponsored by Marks & Tilt Gallery. Part of the Hertfordshire Year of Culture.
Arts Activities Online
The Hertfordshire Open 2020 Online forms part of a wider programme of activities to help people access the arts from their homes. UH Arts has developed a collaborative project with artists to provide creative activities for all ages to enjoy at home at www.uharts.co.uk and is also posting content online @UniHertsArts each Wednesday exploring the extensive Art Collection at the University, including sculptures, photography and painting.
As well as enjoying the Hertfordshire Open 2020 Online, the Handley Page: A Brief History of the Radlett Aerodrome exhibition will also be made available online at www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk. Online visitors are invited to take part in the Paper Plane Engineering event online on Wednesday 8 April.
The St Albans Museums collection is also available to explore online at www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/explore/collections and the museums team will be sharing some of the most fascinating objects and local stories on @stalbansmuseums across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram over the coming weeks.
About St Albans Museum + Gallery
St Albans Museum + Gallery is the newest addition to the collection of cultural heritage sites managed by St Albans Museums. It joins Verulamium Museum, the Hypocaust, the medieval Clock Tower, Sopwell Ruins and the thousands of objects in the City’s collection in being cared for and shared with the world. Set to be a world-class centre for arts and culture at the heart of one of Britain’s most historic cities, St Albans Museum + Gallery is free to all visitors. It showcases over 2,000 years of priceless heritage and hosts cutting-edge art exhibitions, sharing local, national and world treasures with all. National-touring exhibitions from top UK museums will also be available for visitors to enjoy for a small entry fee. For more information, visit www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk
About UH Arts, University of Hertfordshire
UH Arts offers a vibrant arts and cultural programme for the University of Hertfordshire’s campus and local communities, working cross-arts with artists and performers. With a programme of exhibitions, performances, residencies and engagement projects, UH Arts delivers excellent, innovative arts and culture with associated research; offering space for artists and performers to experiment, and audiences to engage and co-produce. Working in collaboration with St Albans Museum + Gallery, and other key partners, UH Arts presents off-campus exhibitions and events, displaying works from around the world in new contexts. For more information, visit www.uharts.co.uk
About the University of Hertfordshire:
The University of Hertfordshire is a vibrant, inclusive, campus-based institution with a vision to be internationally renowned as the UK's leading business-facing university. It is innovative and enterprising and challenges individuals and organisations to excel. All courses are underpinned by industry insight and powerful research ensuring our student community of over 24,600 graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes for successful professional lives. The University has excellent progression rates to employment – 96.5% of students are in employment or further study six months after graduating* - and its teaching expertise has recently been awarded the top gold ranking in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2018. It is one of the top 150 universities in the world under 50 years old, according to the Times Higher Education 150 under 50 rankings 2018. For more information visit: www.herts.ac.uk