Bolton Museum Open Art exhibition showcases local talent

Bolton Museum Open Art exhibition had nearly 200 entries with the best 96 chosen to go on display.

Pieces vary from photography, digital art, oil paintings, sketches, sculptures, needle work, glass work, film, collage, and even childrens' drawings are on offer.

Many of the piece are also for sale, and several have already been sold. 

The exhibition is a chance for talented artists to have their work showcased.

Prizes were awarded to the winning artists.

The exhibition, which opened last month, welcomed entries from those who live, work, or study in Bolton.

There were two prize awarded - the ‘Winners Prize’, which comes with £1,000 reward, and the inaugural ‘Young Artist Award’, which came with a £250 prize.

The prizes were handed out by Mayor of Bolton Cllr Akhtar Zaman at a special event.

Alicja with judge Ged Young and her sculpture (Image: Bolton Library and Museum Services)

The Winner’s Prize, sponsored by the University of Bolton, went to Alicja Ostrowska for her large sculpture, Light and Weight.

The sculpture is made up of a steel outer cube which is around a smaller, perspex cube which is omitting light and casting shadow around the space.

Inside the smaller cube is a fan which is blowing duck feathers around.

The Young Artist Award, sponsored by Bolton at Home, was awarded to Maizie McLaren for her highly accomplished drawing, Hold On - a detailed drawing which depicts a child grasping at a fence which a forlon look on his face.

The museum had 190 pieces of work submitted to be in the exhibition.

The best were selected by judges including Helen Beckett, curator at Touchstones Art Gallery in Rochdale, and Ged Young, programme lead at Bolton School of the Arts, to go on display.

There are 96 pieces on display.

The exhibition runs until February 23, 2023. During that time, visitors can vote for their favourite and the winner will receive the ‘Visitors Choice Award’ before the closure of the display.

Maizie and judge Ged Young with her drawing. (Image: Bolton Library and Museum Services)

The council’s deputy leader, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: “The Open Art exhibition at Bolton Museum is always hugely popular with local artists, as shown by the fact that over 120 people entered this year.

“It’s a unique opportunity for amateur and professional artists alike to have their work on display in an established and well-known venue.

“I think everyone who visits the exhibition will enjoy it. It’s a real celebration of the wealth of artistic talent here in Bolton.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.