Residents of the North East region are encouraged to contribute their artwork to a significant open-call exhibition set to debut at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in March 2024.
Baltic Open Submission in association with Fenwick, will showcase painting, sculpture, photography, video and more by artists, makers, self-taught creatives and hobbyists based in North East England, alongside several works by established artists.
This will be the second Open Submission exhibition at Baltic and works will be selected by a panel including Niomi Fairweather, Baltic Curator and Rose McMurray, Baltic Curatorial Assistant; North East musician and lead singer with Maxïmo Park, Paul Smith; and performance, installation and film artist, Jasmina Cibic.
The exhibition, in Baltic’s Ground Floor gallery, will present up to 100 works drawn from the submissions alongside work by several established artists. These will include Phyllis Christopher, Newcastle-based photographer known for documenting LGBTQ+ sexuality and protest in 1980s/1990s San Francisco; Holly Hendry, London-based sculptor and installation artist who explores what lives beneath the surface, from hidden underground spaces to the interior workings of the body; British institution, household name and prolific painter Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) whose submission is a newly completed unseen work.
“Our Open Submission exhibitions present artworks selected by the panel, regardless of whether that work has been created by an established artist or someone who is self-taught and who might never have shown their work publicly before.
Sarah Munro MBE, Baltic Director
“The response to our very first open-call in 2020 was overwhelming and showed how much talent we have here in the region. And now we’re opening up another opportunity for people to submit their artwork – in any medium from painting and ceramics to sound and video – to be a part of what I hope will be a truly joyful and special exhibition.”
This year, the exhibition is being presented in association with Fenwick, whose flagship department store has been a mainstay of the North East for more than 140 years.
“Our partnership with Baltic will reveal some brilliant new talent in the UK. Creativity has always been part of the Fenwick DNA and supporting talent is a very exciting part of who we are. Through this unique partnership we will showcase artists and celebrate art and culture in the North East.”
Leo Fenwick – Strategic Partnerships Director, Fenwick
Paul Smith, Maximo Park, commented: “It’s a pleasure to be able to work with Baltic and to spend some time with all the varied submissions. After completing my visual art studies, I was a drawing and painting teacher when Maximo Park signed our first record contract, which altered my artistic focus somewhat! However, I’ve retained a keen interest in the visual arts, so this invitation was an opportunity not to be missed.”
The resulting exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday 16 March until Sunday 1 September 2024.
Baltic is inviting submissions until 10am on Monday 27 November 2023, is free to enter, and is open to anyone based in the North East of England. Baltic is holding an online and in-person drop-in session on Thursday 2 November 2023, 11am to 5pm, for anyone with questions about applying. Simply show up on the day or email open@baltic.art to request the Zoom link.
Full details are available at www.baltic.art.
