Since 2015 the North Pennines AONB Partnership’s Cold-blooded and Spineless project has been inspiring amateur naturalists and North Pennines communities to celebrate the importance of invertebrates through science and art. We have developed a series of art trails in the AONB that highlight local species and encourage people to better appreciate the invertebrate world that underpins the function of our special upland landscape and beyond. To bring this all together we are planning a special exhibition of invertebrate themed art in a month long exhibition in Teesdale, we invite work from any discipline dealing with invertebrates.

1. existing, situated, or operating below the surface of the earth; underground.

2. existing or operating out of sight or secretly; hidden or secret.

With this in mind we want to invite submissions of art works that interpret this theme as widely as possible. We want to inspire people to look and see what is hidden in plain sight. We want to reveal the subterraneous world of invertebrates to enlighten our audiences.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline for all submissions in 12th July 2019, no submissions will be accepted after this date.

We hope to include as much of the submitted work as we can but recognise that we are limited on space. All of the work can be for sale if you wish and there is a 30% commission from the Bowlees gallery on all sales

We are open to all mediums that explore the world of invertebrates, whether that is sculpture, craft, video or sound work.

The exhibition will take place from the 1st to 30th of September and the artist must be available to drop off and collect works in the days leading up to and preceding the exhibition, final details of this will be provided to exhibiting artists.