Having visited this year’s Manchester Open Exhibition and seen for myself the breadth of artistic talent on display, I can only imagine what a difficult job it would have been. But someone had to do it!
The judging has taken place and last night, HOME announced the 5 winners of the Manchester Open Awards 2022!
Read more about the exhibition here: Preview: Mcr Open Exhibition 2022
HOME shared the tricky task of selecting this year’s award winners with Castlefield Gallery, choosing from a shortlist of 20 artists.
10,000 pounds of prize funding is being distributed to local creative talent with prizes including tailored artist development packages managed by Castlefield Gallery and HOME to help guide and invest in their practice, a solo show at HOME’s Granada Foundation Gallery and The People’s Choice Award
The nominated artists were broken down into five award categories.
But enough of this intro , build-up and tension!
The awards and winners are as follows:
• Granada Foundation Gallery Award – Gwen Evans, Portrait of a Woman, Oil, acrylic and airbrush on board (Gallery No.435)
• Castlefield Gallery: Artist Professional Development Award 1 -Gherdai Hassell, Solar, Mixed media collage archival print(Gallery no.409)
• Castlefield Gallery: Artist Professional Development Award 2 – Annabelle Richmond-Wright, Alexa, deconstructed computer chair, hand-stitched foam, latex and found object high heels.(Gallery No. 469)
• Castlefield Gallery: Artist Professional Development Award – 50+ – Nan Collantine, Oceans Apart no.22 (I think it’s going to rain today), Oil paint and oil bar on canvas (Gallery No.62)
And the final award, The People’s Choice Award was voted by the public and will receive £250 Cass art voucher and a bespoke development opportunity to be agreed with artist: Winner Luke Armstrong, Paper Samurai, paper sculpture (Gallery No. 458)
Runners up for The People’s Choice Award are: 2nd place – Michelle Topping, Evade, graphite and colouring pencil on paper, 3rd place – Carlos Feng, Isolation, acrylic on canvas, 4th place – Jen Orpin, Stand Your Ground, oil painting on canvas and 5th place – Arnold Pollock, Kam, film.
Congratulations to all!
Helen Wewiora, Director and Artistic Director, Castlefield Gallery, says:
It’s an honour to have been asked to be part of the Manchester Open judging panel again. Submissions for the 2022 exhibition evidence the wealth of artistic and creative talent in the city and city region. The finalists shortlisted for the Manchester Open Awards this year further demonstrate a high level of creative skills and artistic promise.
In the first five weeks, HOME’s award-winning exhibition has generated over £23,000 in art sales with 93 artworks sold, exceeding the inaugural exhibition’s target of £22,000 in 2020.
Kate Royle, Marketing and Sales Officer – Visual Art and Theatre, says:
It proves that there is demand to support Manchester’s diverse local artists. The Manchester Open also serves as an accessible entry point if you are starting your art collecting journey or you just want to snap up a great work of art. It’s fantastic to see so many artists supporting other artists in these purchases and art lovers supporting local artists!
Your last chance to deflect fomo and visit the Manchester Open Exhibition to see not only the award-winning works but all those other fantastic pieces, is swift approaching.
Closing Sunday 27 March, what are you waiting for? Of you go!
For full details, including tickets, visit https://homemcr.org/exhibition/manchester-open-exhibition-2022/
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