Galleries across Nottingham have organised a first of its kind visual art weekender, allowing visitors to access art for free or at discounted rates.
Nottingham Art Weekender takes place during 14 and 15 May and includes all galleries on the Nottingham Art Map which provide a scheduled programme of events.
Among the major galleries involved are Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, New Art Exchange, Bonington Gallery, Djanogly Gallery at Nottingham Lakeside Arts, Backlit, Syson Gallery and more.
The offer includes a discount for Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf at New Art Exchange; free entry to Nottingham Castle; a ten per cent discount off goods at Nottingham Contemporary and the Djanogly Gallery’s shops and more.
Tom Godfrey, gallery manager of the Bonington Gallery at Nottingham Trent University, said: “The Nottingham Art Weekender will be the first event of its type to unite the activities of the major arts venues with smaller organisations, bringing them together onto the same map.
“We hope the Weekender will draw new audiences and also encourage existing gallery goers to delve a little deeper into the local art scene.”
Many of the galleries are accessible by tram and Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is offering all Nottingham Art Weekender visitors reduced rates on tram travel across the city.
Exhibitions open during the weekender include Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf at New Art Exchange; Simon Starling at Nottingham Contemporary and Backlit Gallery; Publishing Rooms at the Bonington Gallery; and Vision and Memory by David Jones at Nottingham Lakeside Arts.
There will also be free drop-in art workshops and the opportunity to see Gordon Cheung: Here be Dragons at Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery.
Financial newspaper, archival inkjet, acrylic, sand and pumice on canvas and sail cloth 200 x 150cm
Syson Gallery will also host a talk entitled Collecting Contemporary Art at 3pm on Sunday 15 May.
Backlit has a free double-bill on Friday 13 May: Nottingham’s newest art gallery, Losers Gym, will be open inside Backlit from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and electronic musician Aja will perform a set of her new music in the Project Space from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. The Simon Starling exhibition in the main Backlit gallery will be open late until 9.30pm.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said: “Nottingham has a fantastic gallery offer so it is great to see venues working together to co-promote their fantastic programmes. We are really pleased that Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery is involved and hope that people enjoy the first Nottingham Art Weekender.”
Backlit Gallery director Matthew Chesney said: “The Art Map Weekender is a great opportunity for people to see the rich spectrum of art galleries, large and small, that Nottingham now has to offer.”