The biannual Mercer Open art exhibition is extending its remit after 20 years of being held in Harrogate.
Hosted by the Mercer Gallery on Swan Road, the event is now open to anyone with a Yorkshire connection this year, rather than the previous limit of the Harrogate district.
People who were born in Yorkshire, or who have lived, worked or studied in the region qualify to submit their work.
Karen Southworth, curator at the Mercer Gallery, said:
“The Mercer Open is not only a wonderful celebration of the fantastic artistic talent associated with Yorkshire, but also offers an amazing opportunity for visitors to the Harrogate district and art-lovers to discover the Mercer Art Gallery and to buy something really special.
“We’re delighted to extend entry invitations more widely this year and we look forward to an incredible showcase of artwork in the Mercer Open, bringing new audiences to the Mercer and enabling more people to enjoy the feel good experience of art appreciation.”
The Mercer Gallery
The exhibition has also been extended in other ways this year. Buyers no longer have to wait until the end of the event to collect their purchases but can take them home immediately.
New work will be put on display throughout the four-month exhibition, enabling more artists to be included and seeing the event evolve over time.
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Meanwhile, the cost of submission this year is £15 for up to three pieces of work, and for the first time it can be done online via the CuratorSpace website.
Anyone who would find the submission fee a barrier can contact curator Courtney Spencer via the CuratorSpace website.
Courtney said:
“I’m really excited to build on the incredible work of the gallery team who have been delivering a biannual open exhibition for the past 20 years.
“It’s been brilliant to broaden the callout to include artists connected to Yorkshire, to move the submissions process online and to reduce the submission fee to enable more artists to submit works.”
Artists have just over a week to submit entries before the deadline of midnight on Sunday, July 31.
The exhibition will run from September 17 until January 8, 2023. The Mercer Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
