There is “open”, and then there is “open”

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I’m back in Bradford after my participation in the Great Sheffield Art Show. Events of this kind always leave me reflecting, and this has been no exception. As we drove back this evening I was thinking about the differences between the several exhibitions in which I have participated over the years that all described themselves as “open” exhibitions. In fact, despite the common title they all seem to approach their function in different ways.

The Great Sheffield Art Show seems to take as its main purpose the offering of a wide platform to artists in the region (particularly, the city) and an opportunity to show their work to a broad public constituency (again, particularly local). There was a huge entry, with well over a thousand pieces on show. I have not counted the number of artists named in the catalogue but it must be around 250. Even ‘though the event took place this year in a larger venue (the city’s Millennium Gallery) it still felt rather crowded. Other events in which I have participated, taking a similar approach, were the exhibitions in Hull and Halifax.

The Bradford “biennale” takes a very different line. It is very selective indeed, with only about 100 items chosen for display. Consequently, the standard is extremely high. In fact, rather than taking the approach that the purpose of the show is to give a platform to as many local artists as possible, in Bradford the philosophy seems to be that of displaying to the world just what a very high standard of work can be produced by local artists.

A third approach is taken by the Great North Art Show in Ripon. This is an unashamedly commercial venture. Entry is open, but there is a rigorous selection process, as in Bradford. The difference, however, is that it seeks to draw in from a very wide geographical area entrants who are an established commercial success, with the intention of using the occasion as a means of raising money to support the musical work of the local Cathedral. The standard of display both here and in Bradford is very high, in comparison with the rather crowded feeling in both Sheffield and Halifax.

The lesson of all of this is that any artist considering the possibility of entering an exhibition that advertises itself as “open” really has to do some homework first, in order to form a judgement about the suitability of their work in that context, the likely opportunity of visitors to view their work to the best advantage, and the degree to which the selection process is selective …. and of course, in that respect, the criteria that the selectors are likely to be using in making their choices.

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