Four Bristol Venues Shortlisted for National Cultural Competition
Posted on: 03 May 2016Four venues in Bristol have been shortlisted for a national competition to win the opportunity to work with leading contemporary artists. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Arnos Vale Cemetery, Arnolfini and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery each stand to win a Museums at Night event curated by their own choice of artist and a £3,000 bursary through the Connect! scheme, funded by Arts Council England.
Now in its eighth year, Museums at Night sees hundreds of museums, galleries and historic spaces all over the UK opening their doors after hours to put on an array of special events. Rosie Clarke, Museums at Night Campaigns Officer says, “The Connect! programme is a fantastic and challenging aspect of the Museums at Night festival: everyone taking part learns a lot about how to foster positive working relationships, realise an artistic vision and inspire new audiences through the power of participatory art.”
(1).jpg "Arnolfini in Bristol")
From 11am on Friday 29 April to 9pm on Saturday 14 May the public can vote for all four Bristol venues to win their choice of artist. Online voting for all four venues begins 11am on Friday 29 April at museumsatnight.org.uk/connect. The winning partnerships will be announced on Monday 16 May and artist events will take place between October 27 and 29 this year.
Kathryn Davis, Head of Tourism at Destination Bristol said, “To have one venue shortlisted for Connect! is great news, but to have four is incredible. We are thrilled to be able to support them by helping get behind the vote to bring four of Britain's most exciting artists to four of Bristol's and Britain's most important cultural venues. We look forward to mobilising support for the vote and, fingers crossed, to welcoming visitors to the city to join locals in celebrating this wonderful occasion. We're getting ready to get voting.”
Arnos Vale Cemetery is dying to work with performance artist Marcus Coates on an audience-led piece which investigates what might happen to us after we slip this mortal coil. Marcus wants to produce an exciting ‘night of ritual’ with performances, images and objects made, not as artworks but as answers in themselves’
The main goal of the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust is to preserve the site for future generations, which is a place of respect for over 300,000 people buried and remembered. It is also a place when there is an abundance of wildlife and plants which thrive in the green and natural environment. Arnos Vale Cemetery can be booked for a whole range of events and special occasions such as corporate, fundraising and charity events, and it is a beautiful, unforgettable venue for a wedding. There is also a gift shop on-site selling Bristol Blue Glass, unique cards and confectionery, while the Atrium Cafe is the perfect place to sit down for a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake.
Arnolfini are competing to win the chance to work with the extraordinary artist Susan Hiller. If successful, her project will explore the past and present of Bristol's Harbourside: through the construction of vessels and the gathering of water. Together, participants will journey through the city on a quest to collect water, before returning to an evening filled with performance, music and making.
Arnolfini is a jewel in Bristol's artistic and cultural crown and represents one of leading centres for contemporary arts in Europe. Located along the historic and beautiful harbourside in the very heart of Bristol, it has long held a proud tradition of championing some of the best, most innovative and diverse performance, film, music, dance and visual arts.
Clifton Suspension Bridge will be competing to win Peter Liversidge who has exhibited and worked with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and will be creating an illuminated piece based on the memories and reminiscences of local people.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will be bidding to win Welsh performance artist Bedwyr Williams, whose humorous outlook will inspire a night of druidical stand-up comedy and camp-fire discussions on the nature of existence.
.jpg "Arnos Vale in Bristol - Days Out")
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
