Open art exhibition to inspire at Clitheroe Castle

The skills of local artists will soon be on display in a creative new exhibition in the Steward's Gallery at Clitheroe Castle.

The annual 'Inspired: The Ribble Valley Open' exhibition starts on Saturday 8 August.

Every year, amateur and professional artists and students who live or work in the Ribble Valley and surrounding area are invited to submit work on a given theme.

This year, artists were challenged to produce work to reflect their personal interpretation of 'town versus country'.

Rachel Jackson, Lancashire County Council's museum manager at Clitheroe Castle, said: "I'm sure visitors will be impressed by the high quality of work on display. It shows the level of talent we have in this area.

"There are many different styles of artwork from contentious, traditional and humorous points of view. The works give us the artist's own views on the subject matter, and are sometimes provocative and often intriguing.

"The artist awarded the Selectors' Choice this year will get the chance to have a solo exhibition next year."

The exhibition will include the work of Dave Gudgeon, the winner of the Selectors' Prize at last year's event.

A 'People's Choice' competition is part of the exhibition. Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite piece of artwork on display. The artist with the most votes, and a visitor, chosen at random, who has voted for the winning artist, will receive a Lancashire Museums Family and Friends Xplorer Ticket.

All of the works on show are for sale. The exhibition runs until Sunday 4 October.

The Steward's Gallery is open daily from 11am to 4pm and admission to the exhibition within the Steward's Gallery part of Clitheroe Castle is free.

Admission to Clitheroe Castle Museum is £4.10 for adults, £3.05 for concessions. Accompanied children go free.

Limited disabled parking is available at the museum. Parking is also available on car parks in the town centre.

For more information, phone 01200 424568 or email [email protected].

Alternatively, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums.

Clitheroe Castle Museum is managed by Lancashire County Council's museum service, on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council.