West Midlands Open

 

Floor 3 | 20 May — 25 September 2022

 

The New Art Gallery Walsall is delighted to present, for the first time, the West Midlands Open, an exhibition of recent artworks in various media by artists from, or connected, to the region. The exhibition follows an open-call to West Midlands artists, including those currently attending an art school in the region or educated here in the past 10 years.

 

The Gallery received over 500 entries from across the region, spanning Greater Birmingham, The Black Country, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. From these, a panel of independent judges and Gallery staff selected 250 works for exhibition.

 

The West Midlands Open celebrates the quality, diversity and vibrancy of the local visual arts ecology and provides a platform and selling opportunity for artists in the region.

 

See the works selected for the West Midlands Open exhibition here

 



by Chris Wilkinson

Job opportunity:  Security Assistant (2 Posts) – Ref: EE07721

 

  • The New Art Gallery Walsall
  • Part-time 29 hours per week
  • £18,933-£19,698 (pro-rata)

 

We are looking to appoint two conscientious, resourceful and dedicated Security Assistants to ensure the care, safety and security of our visitors, building, and exhibits.

 

The New Art Gallery Walsall is one of the leading visual arts venues in the West Midlands. Situated in the heart of Walsall town centre, the Gallery is a busy and vibrant building with an exciting programme of contemporary art exhibitions and collections displays, lively education events, an artist studio, library, café, and shop. The Gallery provides a truly unique place for its visitors to experience, learn from, and participate in the visual arts.

 

Click to view Job Description, Employee Specification and apply:

https://www.wmjobs.co.uk/job/113075/security-assistant-2-posts-ref-ee07721/

 

Closing Date:  6 February 2022

 

 



by Chris Wilkinson

Critical Friends – An Open Call

 

Here at The New Art Gallery Walsall, we want to be welcoming, relevant and engaging to all of our communities.  We have created a small team of Critical Friends to help evaluate our programmes and communications and to explore ways in which we might do things differently. The team reflects a variety of perspectives and we appreciate that they may experience our work in different ways.

 

We are now looking to expand our current team.  We want to reflect the diversity of Walsall and we encourage applications from LGBTQ+, women, people of African or Caribbean heritage, people of South Asian, East Asian and South East Asian heritage, people who are Neurodiverse and those with disabilities.

 

We will organise 4 meetings per year to listen to your feedback and discuss resulting actions. You will be paid £50 for each meeting. Prior to the meetings, you will need to engage with some of our programme such as exhibitions, workshops, digital activity and events, at your leisure. Meetings can be attended online.  We would expect each Critical Friend to commit to 12 months.

 

The Gallery is currently partially open and has social distancing measures in place.  However, we understand that not everyone will be comfortable or able to visit physically in the coming months. The Gallery also offers a wide range of digital projects. Further information can be found on our website.

 

If you are interested in supporting us to make positive changes, please send an email to stephen.snoddy@walsall.gov.uk and let us know why you would like to become our Critical Friend in less than 300 words. Deadline: 5pm, Friday 11th February, 2022.



by Chris Wilkinson

West Midlands Open

20 May – 25 September 2022, The New Art Gallery Walsall

 

 

The West Midlands Open exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate the quality and diversity of the visual arts in the region and will take place at The New Art Gallery Walsall, in our spacious Floor 3 galleries from  20 May – 25 September 2022.

 

The ambition of the Open is to exhibit artists from across the West Midlands, to showcase the talent from the region and to provide selling opportunities for artists. We are keen to present a diverse range of artworks that are representative of and relevant to our broad communities and audiences.

 

Submitting works

Submission is FREE and artists can enter up to two works each. Applications should be made online through our website and will be accepted from Thursday 20 January, 10am – Sunday 20 February, 8pm.

 

Submit work for the West Midlands Open

 

Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email following submission of work.

 

Please go to the  West Midlands Open Exhibition page for full details on how to apply.



by Chris Wilkinson

Recruit-Ability: A Positive Action training initiative for disabled people

Recruit-Ability

A Positive Action training initiative for disabled people

The Recruit-Ability programme provides paid work experience and training placements for people who have a disability.  Additionally, participants can expect to receive full support, advice and access to training courses.

 

Please note: 

  • This opportunity is open to disabled applicants only
  • Recruit-Ability is a positive action programme aimed at providing targeted training to disabled people who are under-represented in our workforce. Equality Act (Section 158) applies.
  • You must be new to Walsall Council (no previous/current employed status with this council)
  • You must be new to this type of positive action programme

 

 

Trainee Programme Assistant: Exhibitions and Technical Services – Ref: EE02321
18.5 hours per week – fixed term for 12 months.
Pay: Training Allowance of £17,842 pro rata to hours worked (£9.24 per hour).

The New Art Gallery Walsall

 

The New Art Gallery Walsall presents, collects and interprets Art in innovative and challenging ways, welcoming visitors from all over the globe as well as our immediate locality.  We develop a wide range of activities and events to increase the understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture for a range of audiences including schools, colleges, universities, families and community groups.

 

We are looking for someone who can provide administrative and practical support to the artistic programme of the venue – in particular by supporting the Technical Services, Exhibitions and Collections teams with tasks including supporting exhibitions and artists projects and building operations.

As well as a familiarity with and an interest in Art, exhibition displays and artist projects, you should be able to use computer packages such as Microsoft Office, be able to provide administrative support and to help to organise and assist with exhibitions and events.

 

If you have any questions about this placement, please call the Recruitment Team on 01922 655673 or email: recruitment@walsall.gov.uk

Please read the below information before applying:

View Job Description and Employee Specification

View Information for Applicants

Closing Date:  8th August 2021

 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Trainee Programme Assistant: Marketing and Learning – Ref: EE02021
18.5 hours per week – fixed term for 12 months.
Pay: Training Allowance of £17,842 pro rata to hours worked (£9.24 per hour).

The New Art Gallery Walsall

 

The New Art Gallery Walsall presents, collects and interprets Art in innovative and challenging ways, welcoming visitors from all over the globe as well as our immediate locality.  We develop a wide range of activities and events to increase the understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture for a range of audiences including schools, colleges, universities, families and community groups.

 

We are looking for someone to provide support to the Gallery by offering administrative and practical support to the artistic programme – this will involve assisting the Learning and Engagement Team with workshops and events and assisting the Marketing Team in press and marketing activities.  You will also have the opportunity to provide occasional support to other departments as required.

 

As well as a familiarity with and an interest in Art, you should be able to use computer packages such as Microsoft Office, have an understanding of how to post content on social media platforms and be able to provide administrative support.

 

If you have any questions about this placement, please call the Recruitment Team on 01922 655673 or email: recruitment@walsall.gov.uk

Please read the information below before applying:

View Job Description and Employee Specification

View Information for Applicants

Closing Date: 8th August 2021

 

 

 

 



by Chris Wilkinson

Welcoming you back

 

The Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sundays 12 noon-4pm.

Free admission. No booking necessary.

 

Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays

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Your safety is our priority

 

We’re committed to making your visit safe. We are following health and safety advice with additional measures and standards in place. Please note the following before you plan your visit:

 

  • There is no need to book.
  • Hand sanitiser will be available on entry and at stations positioned across the building.
  • Please observe Government guidelines on face coverings, and adhere to social distancing throughout the Gallery.
  • As usual, our informed and friendly team will be on hand to ensure you have a great visit. They will also regularly sanitise frequently touched areas such as door handles and lift buttons.
  • An accessible toilet will be available and cleaned frequently.

 

We look forward to welcoming you back when you are ready.



by Hannah Anderson

Call for artist educators

The New Art Gallery Walsall would like to recruit two creative practitioners to join our existing group of talented artist educators who facilitate workshops for our family audiences, schools and the wider community.

 

We are looking to diversify our group’s demographic, to better represent our audiences and the communities living in Walsall; making our workshops even more relevant, rich and vibrant. We would like to hear from artists under-represented in our current group; artists of different heritages, communities and ages (particularly ages 18-30) or who identify as having a disability, long term condition, LGBTQIA+ or belonging to any other protected characteristic group and are passionate about having their voice heard.

 

If you are a freelance creative practitioner with experience working with groups of children and/or adults, we would love to hear from you! For more information and to apply, email Alex Jolly, Learning and Engagement Coordinator: alex.jolly@walsall.gov.uk

 

On application, please tell us why you would like to be considered for this opportunity, and attach your CV.

Deadline for applications: Monday 31 May 2021.



by Hannah Anderson

The New Art Gallery Walsall acquires works by West Midlands’ artists for Twenty Twenty Collection

 

Following an open call, which received 220 submissions, The New Art Gallery Walsall has acquired 33 works by 31 West Midlands-based artists, to create the new Twenty Twenty Collection. This closed, capsule collection represents the significant events of the past 12 months, and commemorates this important historical moment which has impacted on everyone’s lives.

 

The works, spanning a variety of media from collage and photography to drawings and paintings, respond to world events over the last tumultuous year; from the pandemic and lockdown, to the Black Lives Matter movement and Brexit.

 

The chosen artists’ work will be profiled on the Gallery’s website and social media channels during this year, and be exhibited at the Gallery in a dedicated exhibition in our Community Gallery in early 2022. This will coincide with a solo exhibition by Keith Piper (whose work Surveillance: Tagging the Other, was also acquired with funding from Contemporary Art Society, in response to the events of last year) and the British Art Show taking place in Wolverhampton, bringing significant attention to the region, and further increasing the profile of West Midlands artists.

 

In addition, over the last year the Gallery has supported 5 artists through remote residencies. A work produced from each of the 2020 ‘Stay At Home’ residencies is being acquired, including a sufra (or prayer mat) made by Birmingham-based artist Farwa Moledina. We are currently working with national charity Outside In, which supports artists who face significant barriers in participating in the arts, through disability or social circumstance, on providing two residencies to artists they support. The Gallery remains committed to continuing to support West Midlands’ artists, creatives and freelancers during this difficult period.

 

Director, Stephen Snoddy said, “It is important for The New Art Gallery Walsall to acquire this collection to leave a legacy for future generations to document the events of the past year and also at the same time support artists in the West Midlands during this very difficult time.”

 

 

Sherrie Edgar, Isolation Series 11, 18 April 2020, photograph (image courtesy the artist)

 

“Isolation Series is a reflection of people’s thoughts and experiences during the first lockdown. My approach was to reconnect with others, capturing the essence of how we coped during a difficult time. To be selected as part of this call out means this work can help others to identify and understand what we went through.” – Sherrie Edgar.

 

Adele Mary Reed, Instant Dreamscapes in Isolation, Easter Day, 12 April 2020, instant photograph (series of 32, image courtesy the artist)

 

“It means a great deal to me that NAGW have acquired my body of work around cycling, solitariness and spatial exploration locally. There was a very particular feeling in the air at the start of the pandemic which felt very meaningful to capture somehow, and for the work to now be part of the permanent Twenty Twenty Collection is a perfect conclusion. As a mother of a young child during lockdown, partaking in daily exercise and finding space in the city was absolutely crucial to my mental wellbeing and creative thought and I hope this resonates with people who view the work.” – Adele Mary Reed.

 

 

 

Rachel Magdeburg, Expired, 2020, Acrylic on Ipad insert card (image courtesy the artist)

 

“It is hard to express how delighted I am that my painting will be part of this new collection. I have long since admired the exhibition programme at the NAGW and its rich collections, and the space and building are truly inspirational.

 

My painting Expired was initially triggered by the wrangles of the Brexit debate, but also became more and more about travel and the complexities of this during the pandemic.” – Rachel Magdeburg.

 

 

 

Vincent Louis Stokes, A Family under Lockdown, 2021, pencil on paper (image courtesy the artist)

 

“As a visual artist and resident of Walsall, to have my work belong to such a prestigious and renowned institution is truly a great honour. These past twelve months have been incredibly arduous and wearing, though through art I believe we all have the opportunity to escape, if only for a moment, and discover a world of comfort, solace and intrigue.” – Vincent Louis Stokes.

 

 

The Twenty Twenty Collection Artists

Adele Mary Reed

Alex Billingham

Andrew Roberts

Bailey Nock

Charlotte Moore

Corinne

Cristina Celestini

Crow Dillon-Parkin

Edgington

Helen Grundy

Jessica Ladkin

Joanne Masding

Laura Onions

Lindsay Pritchard

Lucy Fiona Morrison

Mark Murphy

Matt Greenhill

Michele Harris

Neil McNaught

Paul Newman

Rachel Magdeburg

Rupi Dhillon

Ruth Spencer

Ryan Christopher

Sally Butcher

Sally Claire Payen

Sherrie Edgar

Sinéad Patching

Sophia Moffa

Vincent Louis Stokes

Yasmin Agilah-Hood

 



by Chris Wilkinson