The exciting three-day festival Lancaster Words celebrates the creative capacity of language in all its forms. Featuring guest writers Paul Muldoon and P.J. Harvey, there will be interviews, open mic events, panel discussions, performances and more. Alongside, we are hosting an exhibition at the Peter Scott Gallery: Telling in Full, an exploration of literature through the Fine Arts.

We are issuing a call-out for artists to produce works of art in the medium of their choice, in response to a piece/pieces of literature – be that a short story, poem, set of song lyrics, creative non- fiction piece, or even an entire series of novels.

Ekphrasis, a Greek word meaning ‘telling in full’, is understood generally as the process of exploring a painting or sculpture through words; however it can be more widely applied to the translation of a work in one artistic medium to another. It has a rich history in the visual arts; Rossetti and Turner are well-known for writing poems inspired by their paintings, and works such as Holman-Hunt’s Isabella and the Pot of Basil cast light onto hidden facets of the original work, teasing out potential narratives.

We invite you to provide illumination; to look into the textual shadows of literature, and pull out something half-glimpsed. Or indeed, to cast something in a striking new light. Your response could explore the spaces between the lines, or translate the words directly into a new artistic form. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, collages, sound pieces, prints and digital work are all welcome.

The notion, that through ekphrastic translation we can re-engage with stories and one another, lies at the heart of this exhibition.

Our featured writers are Paul Muldoon and PJ Harvey, but you are welcome to respond to any piece of literature, provided the content you engage with in your artwork is suitable for a family audience. If you have any questions as to the eligibility of your chosen content, please send us an email prior to submitting your proposal.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

• Deadline for submissions is 12 noon on the 24th March 2017
• Applicants will be informed of the results by the 14th April 2017
• Applicants must be over 18 and can be at any stage in their career, including students.
• The submissions system allows for artists to propose a new idea especially for the exhibition, or to submit an artwork they have already made.
• Successful applicants are responsible for insuring artworks, as well as for their delivery and collection. Under exceptional circumstances, help may be available. To discuss this further please get in touch by email.
• The selection committee reserve the right to reject finished works if they feel they are not representative of the accepted proposal.
• There are no artist fees available. However artists will have the opportunity to sell work and to network with other creative professionals.
• Work must be suitable for a family audience.