Inland Art Festival is seeking applications from artists based in the South West for a key strand in our 2016 programme. We are searching for up to 20 artists producing contemporary art across a variety of medias. This strand of the festival will celebrate and expose the variety of arts practice in the South West.

As well as the opportunity to be part of a fully marketed programme showcasing significant and emerging artists, there will be a Peoples’ Choice award selected by the festival audience from a shortlist created by the opencall panel. The recipient of the Peoples’ Choice will receive a residency and exhibition at Back Lane West in 2017, funded by Inland Art Festival. All selected artists will be paid an exhibiting fee of £50 in line with the Paying Artists campaign recommendations. In addition to this, the festival will insure the works whilst on display and pay for postage/courier/transportation to and from Redruth - please see our FAQs for the terms and conditions of this.

FESTIVAL CONCEPT

The Future Project is just that... an exploration of the future! This could be real or imagined, focussed on Redruth or exploring wider scenarios from architecture and environment to family and education; it could even introduce weird and wonderful utopias and alternative worlds.

We are looking for work in any medium which imagines the possible or impossible, introduces new ideas and values, to help us create a myriad of future visions during the festival. 

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Inland will animate the town of Redruth for three days in October, bringing diverse communities together. We have an ambitious free programme which showcases internationally acclaimed and emerging regional art. Delivering screenings, performances, interactive installations in unexpected locations and events from family workshops to talks for practitioners.

FESTIVAL VENUES

Inland Art Festival makes use of empty buildings, community hubs and established art spaces in the centre of Redruth. This makes for an intriguing festival experience but means that some venues will not be confirmed until October, therefore the festival team cannot confirm where selected works will be hung before the festival. Where there are particular requirements for how a work is shown, artists should make these clear at the application stage and the Inland team will work with selected artists to make sure works are shown in a context the artist is happy with.

THE SELECTION PANEL

2016’s selection panel is made up of practicing artists and curators who are critically engaged in the development of contemporary art in the South West and beyond. The Panel represents regional and national institutions as well as independent artists and self organised agencies.

Sara Matson is exhibitions and displays curator at Tate St Ives.

Blair Todd is Deputy Director and Exhibitions Curator of NPO Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange.

Naomi Frears is an artist based in St Ives.

Cat Bagg and Rosie Thomson-Glover are directors of Field Notes, a projects organisation based in Cornwall.

Jane Lowry and Patrick Lowry are directors of Back Lane West residency and project space in Redruth. 

Alice Mahoney is an artist and active member of CMR artist organisation, Redruth.

THE SUBMISSION PROCESS

Please read our FAQs and fill out a submission form, attaching up to three examples of your work. Once all submissions are received the selection panel will meet to select work for the final show.

KEY DATES

• Submissions will be accepted between 1st July - 5th August 2016

• Artists’ notification: 5th September 2016

• Delivery of work: 10th October 2016

• Festival Dates:  21st - 23rd October 2016

• Collection of works: 24th - 28th October 2016