Two exciting exhibitions are opening on Saturday July 15 at Huddersfield Art Gallery’s temporary space at the Piazza Centre.
A Generous Space 3 follows on from the success of A Generous Space 1 and 2, and is the first of the exhibitions to take place in the North.
It is a showcase of 100 artists, all of whom are signed up to the Artist Support Pledge, providing a real-world immersion into the Artist Support Pledge community, a movement, culture and economy which supports artists and makers.
Matthew Burrows, Julie Lomax, CEO of The Artist Information Company, and Grant Scanlan from Huddersfield Art Gallery selected 50 artists. Each artist, in turn, was then asked to select another artist, reflecting the origins of the pledge.
The artists selected are from across the country, including several from Yorkshire and local artist Alison Edmunds, based in Huddersfield.
Artists Support Pledge was founded by artist and former lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, Matthew Burrows MBE in March 2020 as a way of supporting artists struggling financially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Artists posted works on the social media platform Instagram, using the hashtag #artistsupportpledge, selling work for a maximum price, at the time, of £200.
Every time an artist made £1,000 in sales, they pledged to buy work from another artist. Artist Support Pledge has since become a global phenomenon, generating an estimated £60 million in sales for artists in 2020.
A Generous Space 3 provides a dynamic snapshot of the breadth of artists working today and celebrates the talent of artists from across the UK, along with providing a unique opportunity to acquire artwork by leading artists at an affordable price.
Taking place during Kirklees Year of Music, TOWNSOUNDS is a photographic exhibition charting how Huddersfield and the wider Kirklees district and its music have grown, hand-in-hand, through the voices of the people who have made it.
It displays the remarkable diversity of musical expression which has flourished here, reflecting the many different groups and communities who have made Kirklees their home.
The exhibition is part of the TOWNSOUNDS heritage project by Let’s Go Yorkshire.
Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, said: “I’m delighted that we are welcoming two more exciting exhibitions to Huddersfield Art Gallery this summer, both of which have local links and wide appeal.”
Both exhibitions launch on Saturday July 15 from 1.30pm, where there will also be music from Zion Inna-Vision Sound System.
