Artichoke

•       Artichoke, the UK's leading producer of large-scale public art events, has announced the latest Open Call for The Gallery, the new cultural institution without walls
•       The Gallery Season 3, invites artists from around the world to respond to the theme, No But Where Are You Really From?
•       Selected artists will have their work exhibited across the UIK and will become part of The Gallery’s growing permanent collection
•       120 million views across more than 5,000 sites in places where people live, work, shop and travel
•       Images: https://mediacentre.kallaway.com/artichoke/image-library

Artichoke has announced the theme for Season 3 of The Gallery, the new cultural institution founded in July 2022, under the Creative Directorship of public artist, Martin Firrell. Created with a mission to challenge traditional models of viewing art through exhibitions in the public space that encourage conversation and meaningful debate, The Gallery invites artists from around the world to respond to the important topics and questions of our time. 

The Open Call for Season 3 of The Gallery invites artists to respond to the theme: No But Where are You Really From? In an increasingly globalised world of international travel and mass migration, The Gallery is asking timely questions about origin, inclusivity, belonging, transition, and exchange and to consider what it feels like to be excluded or denied on the one hand and accepted and embraced on the other.

The first two exhibitions of The Gallery were viewed more than 120 million times and displayed on 5000 sites across the UK. Previous iterations have provoked a mix of public ire and approbation. The first exhibition, Straight White Male (July-August 2022), generated a Twitter Storm and coverage in The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph, Mail Online and GB News amongst others, all commenting on artist Nadina Ali’s arresting graphic text work which invited Straight White Men to “pass the power”. Season 2, The State We’re In (February 2023) included Sarah Maple’s Let Them Eat Nothing, a topical take on Marie Antoinette’s oft-quoted comment about cake, and Rue The Waves by Natasha Klutch, which depicted a bruised and battered Britannia in a post-Brexit world. (See thegallery.org.uk for the full list of all artists).

The Open Call for Season 3, closes on Sunday, 23 April, with thousands of submissions expected. 10 outstanding works will be chosen by a panel for exhibition by The Gallery. The selection criteria include artistic quality, visual impact in public space, and ability to generate conversation and public debate. The selected artists will be paid a commissioning fee and will receive professional development and mentoring, as well as national and international exposure through an extensive publicity campaign. They will become part of The Gallery’s diverse permanent collection in the online archive at thegallery.org.uk. 

The exhibition, No But Where Are You Really From? will hit the streets in September 2023, in partnership with the Out-of-Home industry, with artworks exhibited in public space across the four nations of the UK, at bus stops, on billboards and digital advertising screens and online.

Martin Firrell, Creative Director of The Gallery said: 

“We’re not asking people to agree with us, we’re asking them to think in response to art that opens up space for debate. My hope for The Gallery Season 3 is that it will lay bare the qualitative experience of being made to feel 'on the other side' of things, of society, of life. And I hope that all of us will be made richer and kinder by that insight.” 

Bakul Patki, Guest Curator of The Gallery Season 3 said: 

“I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked where I really come from. Today, as people increasingly move across the globe and heritages are increasingly hybrid, I think many hope and believe that a question like this is redundant – but I know first-hand how relevant it still is, and I look forward to bringing my personal experiences and insights to the project.”

An Artichoke Project conceived in collaboration with Creative Director, Martin Firrell

In partnership with: Clear Channel, JCDecaux, Alight Media, Mass Media, KBH Group, Redbus Media, 75Media and Outsmart.

ENDS 

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NOTES TO EDITORS 

About Artichoke:
Artichoke is the UK's leading arts producer. Its mission is to bring artists and communities together to create extraordinary and ambitious experiences that live in the memory forever. The ambitious artworks Artichoke produce in cities, the countryside and on coastlines around the UK transforms the way people see the world.Previous Artichoke projects include Lumiere, the UK’s light art biennial, in Durham, Great Fire 350, and London's Burning. Lumiere will return to Durham 16-19 November 2023.

About The Gallery:
The Gallery is a major project by Artichoke in partnership with the Out-of-Home industry, which aims to create a repository of artworks that respond to the important conversations of our time, using public art to create debate and ignite meaningful conversation. Season 1 took place July-August 2022, and Season 2 (February 2023).  All the artworks are now in The Gallery’s collection and may be viewed online at thegallery.org.uk.

About Martin Firrell:
Martin Firrell is a British public artist whose works challenge unjust power systems of all kinds, including patriarchal power, the oppression of women and non-heterosexuals, and the heteronormative status quo. He uses language to engage directly with the public, provoking dialogue about more equitable social organisation. His work can be summarised as “art as debate” and his goal “to make the world more humane”.

About Bakul Patki: 
Bakul Patki is a freelance curator, creative producer and cultural consultant specialising in fine art, photography, design and architecture. She works independently and for organisations to devise, develop and deliver projects with individual artists, studios, institutions, festivals, and charities, as well as brands who have an interest in working with and supporting creativity. She is passionate about bringing art into the public realm - extending its reach and amplifying its impact by removing physical, political and perceived barriers.

Over her career she has curated and produced exhibitions, installations, performances and panels, at a number of prestigious locations; including Royal Hampton Court Palace; Somerset House; Piccadilly Circus; the Photo Museum of Ireland in Dublin; The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest; and Documenta 15 in Kassel (collateral). Recent projects for brands include the curation and production of a series of talks, events and exhibitions for Artnet at Art Basel Miami Beach (2022), Frieze London (2022) and Frieze LA (2023).

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Email: artichoke@kallaway.com