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Upcoming & Past Events

JUDGING THE 2012 UK CHILDREN'S FINE ART COMPETITION

Judging The 2012 UK Children's Fine Art Competition took place at Staffordshire University on the 16th January 2012. Over 600 high quality works of art were assessed by nationally recognised judges Frederick Phillips, Peter Smith, Rob Pointon, Julie Winwood, Julie Newbold, Susan Law-Webb and Harry Davies. The children had clearly gone to great lengths to ensure that it was a thoroughly enjoyable but a very difficult task. Prizes were awarded across counties at Primary, Secondary and Special school level, culminating in a national award for each level and an award for best overall school contribution.

In all over 30 awards have been made.

The organisers, Fenton based Art Venue CIC, were very ably assisted by volunteers from North Staffs YMCA and thanks must go to our partners Staffordshire University for the free use of the judging venue, as well as our patrons Christine King and Nick Hancock.

All entries will now be sent to the annual International Children's Exhibition of Fine Arts (ICEFA) - the largest fine art competition for children in the world reinforcing the core values of friendship, tolerance, empathy, respect, responsibility, courage and determination. The ICEFA has been running for 40 years now and receives, on average, 30,000 entries from around 70 countries. It is organized and coordinated by The Lidice Gallery in Lidice, Czech Republic, the community which shares a strong emotional bond with Stoke-on-Trent. 

The International Children's Exhibition of Fine Arts was established to commemorate the children victims from the Czech village as well as all other children who have died during war conflicts. It promotes not only the inspirational aspect of art but also tolerance and understanding of cultures and people worldwide, a noble cause.

 

 

WEMBLEY HERE WE COME

"Wembley Here We Come"

Sat 9th April - Sat 21st May.

Celebrating Stoke's progress in the FA Cup - Could this be the year? And raising cash for the children on the wards at The University Hospital of North Staffordshire and the Stoke City Old Boys' Association.

With the support of Gordon Banks, Denis Smith and Nick Hancock.

New, inspirational works from Sid Kirkham, Dale Bowen and more...

Oh, and I do believe we're doing oatcakes and cheese with Sid Kirkham between 10 am and 12 noon on the opening Saturday - so if you're stuck for breakfast...

Theartbay Gallery. 01782 844222.

26 Christchurch Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. ST4 3AD

Opening Hours.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 10am - 5pm
Other days - By appointment - please call 01782 844222 or email info@theartbay.co.uk
 

Prizegiving Ceremony - The 2011 UK Children's Fine Art Competition

On Monday evening, March 7th, the Prizegiving event of the 2011 UK Children's Fine Art Competition took place at The Victoria Hall, Hanley.

It was a great success. 38 prizes of framed fine art prints and art sets were presented to delighted children.

The children had produced artwork in celebration of the work of ordinary British people in rebuilding Lidice, the Czech village wiped out by the Nazis in 1942. Around 400 inspired pieces were exhibited, bringing a kaleidoscopic effect to the Victoria Hall for several weeks!

It was fitting that The Victoria Hall should be the venue for the exhibition as it was the launch pad of the "Lidice Shall Live" campaign on September 6th 1942. See footage of the launch here.

To register for the 2012 competition please get in touch. 

 

21st CENTURY SISTERS

Saturday 11th – Saturday 25th September 2010

An eclectic mix of original paintings, fine art prints, ceramics and glassware showcased the varied talents of female artists from North Staffordshire and beyond!

Featured:Helen Randall; Sue Law-Webb; Laurie Clarke; Lyn James; Kate Gandolfo; Helen Taylor; Vicky Mount; Bridget Finlow; Diana Harrison; Sue Mutch; Tiffany Budd; Julia Greenyer; Annabel Thornton; Sonja Kobrehel; Lizzie Norton; Karena Karras; Alison Morgan

BANKSYART

The Gordon Banks' "In Safe Hands" Art Competition was open to all children.

The "goal" was to produce a piece of artwork reflecting 'The Spirit of '66'; that feeling of camaraderie, charity and goodwill that surrounds every international football tournament.

All submitted pieces were available to view throughout a week-long exhibition. 

The winners had their pieces framed and shown alongside the other exhibitors' works and were invited, with a guest, to the gallery on Friday 28th May to meet Gordon Banks and receive their prize. One, overall winner was announced on the night and received the top prize of a perspex print of their artwork signed by Gordon.

As a gesture to launch this fund-raising relationship with artist Sid Kirkham, Gordon has produced his own work of art which will be auctioned off for his appeal - the last day of the auction being the day of The World Cup Final. Bids can be accepted at www.banksyart.net 

The piece will be signed on the evening of the 28th May at Theartbay Gallery, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

25TH ANNIVERSARY - MINERS' STRIKE DEBATE
George Galloway - Respect

THE BIG "A" DEBATE

As part of a series of events to commemorate The Miners' Strike and celebrate the mining industry, Theartbay Gallery  put on a "Question Time" style debate at The Forum Theatre in Hanley to discuss the legacy of The Miners' Strike over the last 25 years; an episode in Britain's recent past which affected millions of people, both directly and indirectly. Judging by the levels of emotion in The Forum Theatre on the evening of Wednesday 3 2010, it is clear that the humanitarian cost of The Miners' Strike 1984-1985 is immeasurable. See a clip of it here.

We've received many complementary comments from audience members and panellists alike about the production and execution of the event. Everybody who was there enjoyed themselves and many, according to the people we spoke to, were able to get a few things off their chest that they'd been bottling up for 25 years; after all, this was the first opportunity for the public to quiz senior politicians about The Strike and the following de-industrialisation that took place.

Edwina Currie

People were there from all over the country (Durham, Nottingham, Derby, Wales, Coventry) - which was our intention from the beginning. We wanted Stoke-on-Trent to host a debate about the NATIONAL legacy of The Strike. There were few parochial references. And the wide range of ages within the audience was pleasing; it was an educational, as well as a, long overdue, scrutiny event.

Scene from Debate

As organiser, Theartbay, Fenton, would like to thank the following:

The panellists – Edwina Currie, George Galloway MP, Ken Loach, David Hencke and Mike Nattrass MEP;

The chairman – Oliver Speight;

Liaison – Jilly Stubbs, Sue Law-Webb;

Reception – Sid and Kendal Kirkham;

Microphones – Stephanie Boden, Damian Rowe, Darren Smallwood, Joanne Clews, Louise Smith;

Film – Andrew Stuart, James Bell and Staffs Live Film Crew;

Strike footage soundtrack – Steve Shaw;

The "Big A" logo – Harry Davies;

Photography – Dave Chesters.

We would also like to thank Laura Mcmullan BBC, Terry Walsh BBC Radio Stoke, Tony Walley and Mike Rawlins at Pitsnpots, Martin Tideswell and Mike Sassi of The Sentinel, Clare Short, Tony Benn, Peter Tatchell, Mike Stubbs, Brenda Procter, Harry Davies, Mark Fisher, Mick Bell and Martin Hulme.

Finally I'd like to thank the audience for their attendance and involvement. Although mainstream media, with a few notable exceptions, to whom we are sincerely grateful, have generally abandoned the millions affected by the de-industrialisation that's taken place over the last 25 years, there was enough passion on display that night to confirm that we don't and won't forget.

ALAN GERRARD

Theartbay Gallery