Thinking of Entering our Art Competition? "Just Do It!"
Calling all local artists! You have until 25th October to submit your entries for the Belle Vue Arts Festival Art Competition! Sponsored by Shrewsbury's prestigious Soden Collection and premier listings website MyShrewsbury, the competition is open to artists in any medium aged fifteen and over, with the winner seeing their work take pride of place in the Soden Collection's gallery window and online in MyShrewsbury. You can get more details here, but in the meantime the Festival Blog grabbed a quick chat with three of the competition judges: Shropshire-based sculptor and ceramicist Halima Cassell MBE FRSS (HC), Claire Pocock of MyShrewsbury (CP), and Jonathan Soden of the Soden Collection (JS).
How and what does the competition contribute to Shropshire's art scene?
HC: The competition greatly contributes to the Shropshire art scene by bringing the creative community together from the region, regardless of age, background and status.
CP: The competition is a fantastic celebration of local artists who are the beating heart of our thriving art scene.
JS: It's a way for the community to pull together. I've got a good [shop] window and it's nice to showcase talent from the local area in a commercial space. It also introduces me to new talent. Some of the artists who've won the competition have gone on to collaborate with us. It doesn't always happen, but if they can offer something that's missing from the gallery, then definitely I would include them in our roster. People who've seen pieces in the window over that weekend have come back a month or two later to ask for more information. So it works on a commercial basis.
What are you hoping to see from entries?
HC: I am hoping to see entries that excite, uplift and question my thinking.
CP: I don't have the same art credentials as the other brilliant judges, so I'll be enjoying discovering some new names, taking in great art, and revelling in being moved by art in new and unexpected ways.
How do you decide on the winners?
HC: When looking at the artwork through the vast diverse range of entries, I think skill, uniqueness and challenging themes always capture my attention.
JS: I don't think we have a fixed agenda. It's looking at the entries that come in and judging those, rather than trying to look for something specific. Sometimes there are clear winners and then sometimes it's a challenge to pick one out of a very, very good bunch. And then there's some good curveballs as well, which you never thought that you would select but you love them for all the right or wrong reasons, and put them forward.
What advice would you give to someone who might be thinking of entering but is unsure if the competition is for them?
CP: If you're thinking of entering but don't think it's for you or you're full of self-doubt, I really urge you to go for it. There is no downside to entering, only the enjoyment of being part of a celebration of local art.
JS: Just do it! There have been people who have needed encouragement, and maybe thought that it wasn't the right competition or the right time. I would say, out of the five winners to date, two of them needed that encouragement and they went on to win. So yeah, it's as simple as...just do it!
What does the competition mean to you?
HC: The competition is a great opportunity for seeing new and existing artists' work as well as a chance for up-and-coming artists and young talent to let us see what they can do. Who wouldn't want to showcase their work in a selected exhibition in a wonderful professional setting!
CP: I'm really excited to be part of this competition for the first time and to be surrounded by the talents of our amazing local artists and creatives.
JS: It's satisfying to have a relationship going on between the town centre and Belle Vue and it elongates the Festival and prolongs the occasion. The collaboration between Belle Vue Arts Festival, the Soden Collection and MyShrewsbury is also really nice. MyShrewsbury is able to raise awareness: by publishing an article about it they can get more visual artists to actually see the competition. It's a great way of being part of the community, being part of the arts scene, and making people feel good about their artwork.
