The selection panel and sponsors of the Nottingham Open Exhibition 2014, an annual celebration of the best artistic talent in the East and West Midlands, has announced the winning artists of this year’s competition. The Awards were made this weekend at the exhibition’s packed and exciting Closing Ceremony.

The selection panel of three independent judges from outside the region: Kirsty Ogg (Director of New Contemporaries) and artists Sean Edwards and Antony Micallef, considered 447 applications this year, and selected 32 artists, 11 of these are Nottingham-based (within the City Boundary), six from Nottinghamshire, eight from the remainder of the East Midlands, and seven from the West Midlands.

The panel then met again to judge the work and award the prizes, including an overall winner. This year’s main prize of £2,000 is awarded to Simon Raven & Jim Brouwer.

Prizes for the Nottingham Castle Open have generously been provided by the exhibition’s sponsors (see credits below) and Nottingham City Council, and have proved to be a great draw for artists, along with the unique experience of showing in the historic setting of Nottingham Castle.

Nottingham City Council is pleased to announce the prize winners for this year’s Annual Open are:

£2000 main prize
Simon Raven & Jim Brouwer

Solo exhibition at Nottingham Castle in 2015
Corinna Spencer

Nottingham Castle Purchase Prize
Craig Fisher

The New Art Exchange Prize
Sumiko Eadon

Solo exhibition at Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington
Jackie Berridge

The Syson Prize
Lotti Closs

A three month residency courtesy of One Thoresby Street
Adam Grüning

The Surface Gallery Prize
Craig Fisher & Jodie Wingham

The GreatArt Award of £250 worth of materials and a further £250 worth of vouchers
Alan Baker

£250 worth of John E Wright fine art or photographic print services
Tracy-Ann Marrison

The Ian Robinson Prize – £200 cash prize
Lois Wallace

Nottingham Society of Artists Prize
Andrew Macara

The People’s Panel Prize
 Simon Raven & Jim Brouwer

The Illuminate Prize
Geoff Diego Litherland

One year’s free membership of Axisweb
Abi Hubbard

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said:  “The Annual Open is always an exciting exhibition in the Castle’s programme with a huge variety of media submitted and selected including video, performance, collage, drawing, ceramics, painting, jewellery, installation, sculpture and printmaking.  It continues to go from strength to strength with a 34% increase in entries this year, confirming the importance of the exhibition in the arts calendar.”

The Castle’s next exhibitions will be Richard Slee: Work and Play – a touring exhibition organised by Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle working in partnership with Hales Gallery London, alongside John Plowman: A Life Drawing which opens on 31 January until 22 March 2015.

Entry to Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery is £5.50 for adults, £4 for concessions. City residents with a valid Citycard can gain entry Tuesday – Friday for just £1. The admission fee to Nottingham Castle includes entry to the exhibitions.

The Castle is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 4pm (last admission is 3.30pm) until 13th February.

Further details about exhibitions at the Castle are available by visitingwww.nottinghamcastle.org.uk or call Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery on 0115 876 1400.

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Prizes for the Nottingham Open 2014 have been sponsored by:

Nottingham City Council; New Art Exchange; Tarpey Gallery; SYSON gallery; Ian Robinson Design; One Thoresby Street; GreatArt.co.uk; John E Wright; Magpie Brewery; Axisweb; Nottingham City Museums’ People’s Panel & Illuminate: Surface Gallery; Nottingham Society of Artists