Outside In: Aims to provide a platform for artists who find it difficult to access the art world whether due to health, disability, social circumstance or art process.
In October 2012 Pallant House Gallery will present the Outside In: National - a unique arts competition for artists who feel excluded from the art world for a variety of reasons which may include health, disability or social circumstance. Artists can create their own online gallery and submit work for free from now until 20th July 2012. Selected works will then be showcased in a major exhibition from 27th October 2012 – 3rd February 2013 in the main gallery spaces at Pallant House Gallery.
Outside In was set up by Pallant House Gallery in 2006 to bring the ‘outside in’, by providing a platform for artists who find it difficult to access the mainstream art world by providing a safe space for artists to align themselves with. Its goal is to create a level playing field where access is possible for all who create. The competition was originally open to artists living within Sussex in 2007 before widening in 2009 to include the South of England. In 2012 the open art competition will be open to artists from across the whole of the United Kingdom with accompanying regional exhibitions in 2013 and a touring exhibition.
Outside In houses other exhibition and training opportunities including; Outside In: London, a group of show of artists from Greater London taking place during the London Paralympics at the Café Gallery Project in Southwark Park from 29th August – 9th September 2012; Step Up, providing sector based training through its Workshop Leaders, Research and Curating Programmes and a dedicated website housing thousands of artworks by excluded artists.
Marc Steene, Head of Learning and Community at Pallant House Gallery, has spearheaded the project, describing it as a ‘gentle revolution’, designed to enable a fairer art world were all who create have an equal opportunity to sit at the table and have their work seen and valued. He says ‘The challenge we are embracing is to reconsider how we define who is and is not an artist and what is and is not art in order to change attitudes in the mainstream art world’.
Outside In: National 2012
Entry to the competition is free and is open to artists across the United Kingdom. The closing date for submissions is 20th July 2012 via the Outside In website www.outsidein.org.uk. From the Outside In: National six award winners will be chosen who will have the opportunity to have a solo exhibition at Pallant House Gallery.
To find out more email: outsidein@pallant.org.uk or call: 07735 568531 or visit the website: www.outsidein.org.uk