Art competition launched

Derbyshire County Council’s Open Art Competition has been running successfully for 34 years and is open to amateur and professional artists, including children. The resulting exhibition is supported by Tarmac and the Friends of Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.

Entries for the competition must capture an essence of what Derbyshire means to the artist. The subject could be a Derbyshire landscape, a view of the artist’s street or home town, local people, still life or representations of local stories. Entrants can use most mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolours, drawing, print, collage, manipulated digital imagery or three-dimensional work. The closing date for the competition is Saturday, June 11.

The council’s cabinet member for health and communities Councillor Dave Allen said: “Our exhibition has been attracting a wide and appreciative audience for over 30 years and I expect the same this summer. I am delighted that we buy the winning entry to add to our art collection at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery which makes it available to view beyond the dates of the exhibition.”

Prizes totalling £2,250 - including a £750 first prize - are on offer along with the opportunity to display work at the county council’s Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. Prizes will be announced on June 24.

Artists can submit up to two works which must be handed in between 10am and 4.30pm on Friday, June 10, or Saturday, June 11, to the Museum and Art Gallery, in Terrace Road, Buxton.

An independent panel of judges will select the winners of nine prizes, including one for sculpture and also one for work by artists aged 21 or under. Visitors to Buxton Museum will have the chance to vote for their favourite while the exhibition is on – the Visitors’ Choice will be announced on Tuesday, August 9.

The rules and entry form can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum at any council library or at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. For more information call 01629 533540 or email [email protected]

The judges’ selection will go on display at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery from June 25 until September 2.