February 2, 2017

A new, fun, educational exhibition displaying twenty North Devon schools art work – by children aged from 4 to 18-years-old – opens at The Burton art gallery and museum in Bideford this Saturday, February 4.

The Annual Schools Exhibition, which runs until March 13, is all about the gallery working with local schools and the community to celebrate children’s creativity. The Burton’s education programme aims to provide children’s curriculum projects with a high-quality art venue – where parents, children and teachers can come to view their projects – that is proud to display their work.

The gallery walls are covered from top to bottom, with every pillar and even the ceiling beams, coated with 1000 pieces of unique, colourful pieces of art. Topics covered include: African face masks, Vikings, Day of the Dead skull sculptures, war, cave paintings, hanging tapestries, Loch Ness, Stonehenge, and the Royal Family.

There is also a serious and challenging message in a large installation by Shebbear College, on homelessness.

Set up in an “age-circle” approach, the pieces of work are divided into sections for each school’s entries, beginning with the youngest Reception age children, moving clockwise around the gallery to College-aged young people.

People visiting the exhibition are urged to spend time “spotting the art”, because when you think you’ve looked at it all there is more to see in another corner.

The Burton’s collections and exhibitions officer, Warren Collum, believes this exhibition is a positive assault on the senses, with some really distinctive pieces of work. He said: “We love putting this exhibition on because you can see how much thought and work the kids have put into their work. Some of these pieces are so good they would sell in an art auction, no problem. And we want children, parents and schools to know this. We’re proud to display their work and they should be proud of what they have achieved to get it displayed in a gallery that regularly shows work by Picasso, Warhol and Matisse.”

As well as being displayed, each piece of work will be judged by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies (NADFAS), with three cash prizes of £100 each awarded to schools exhibiting the most original artwork.

For more information about the Annual School Exhibition, go to the Burton’s new website www.theburton.org

The Burton is open 10-4 Mon to Sat and 11-4 on Sundays.

ENDS

Notes to editors

There are photos of the exhibition available on request.

Interviews

Warren Collum, Collections and Exhibitions Officer, is available for interviews.

Anthony Burt, Communications & Events Supervisor, is available for interviews