This January sees the return of the biennial Art Prize and exhibition hosted by Banbury Museum & Gallery and supported by the Museum Patron’s Circle, Banbury Visual Arts and The Artery, Banbury. The Ironstone Art Prize and exhibition showcases the best recent work by artists living in and around Banbury.
This competition provides a platform for both emerging and established artists to exhibit their work in a public space. We want the competition to contribute to the cultural enrichment of Banbury as a hub for creativity and the visual arts. And hope it fosters a sense of engagement and appreciation in our community for the diverse range of artistic and creative expressions that can be found in our area.
The competition opened for submissions in September 2023, with artists working or living up to 40/km25miles away from Banbury able to enter. Submissions came in all kinds of forms, from painting and prints to ceramics, photography, sculpture, weaving and embroidery.
‘Whilst we normally stipulate that artwork has to have been created in the two years prior to submission for the Prize, for Ironstone 2024, we extended this deadline back to March 2020 to take into account the delayed schedule of the competition due to the Covid Pandemic.
We predicted there may have been some great new work produced during the intervening years and we have not been disappointed. It has been a particularly competitive year!’
Dale Johnston, Exhibitions Manager Banbury Museum & Gallery.
The Prize also includes an Under 21’s category, with a cash prize kindly sponsored by Barry Whitehouse from The Artery art shop in Banbury.
The entrants have now been collated and judged by this year’s panel which includes:
- Philip Mould OBE Broadcaster, Art Dealer and
Historian
- Deborah Smith Director of the Arts Council
Collection
- Paul Hobson Director Modern Art Oxford
- Finlay Taylor Senior Tutor Royal College of Arts
‘It was really great to be part of the Ironstone judging panel, seeing a breadth of work form a diversity of intergenerational artists. A big congratulations to all the artists who submitted work’.
Deborah Smith, Director of the Arts Council Collection
The winners of the Prize and the Under 21’s category will be announced during a special award evening on the 1st February 2024. The winner of the Prize will take home the £1000 prize money and their work will be exhibited alongside all the shortlisted artists work in an exhibition at the Museum that will run from 28th January through to 10th March 2024.
A People’s Prize, chosen by visitors to the exhibition will be announced on the 29th February 2024.
The Ironstone Art Prize exhibition opens Saturday 27th January and runs until 10th March 2024.
Tickets on sale now.
For further information on ticketing and visiting Banbury Museum & Gallery, see our website. www.banburymuseum.org
Adult: £2.50
Child: under 18’s free
Unsold tickets will be made available on the day, but we strongly advise booking prior to your visit especially at weekends, school holidays and other busy times.
