Bow Arts Open Studios Announced

May 6, 2011 - PRLog -- The Bow Arts Open is one of the largest and most respected annual arts events in London.  This year, it expands to showcase the creativity of 350 artists spread across sites and LiveWork units in Bow and its new complex in Bermondsey – the SE1 Studios and Project Space. The Open is a series of exhibitions, open studios, salons and events which allow the general public, collectors and curators, a chance to see new work by artists. It’s an exciting opportunity to see a range of work and get a chance to see ‘behind-the-scenes’ and find out more about their creative processes and lives.

A highlight of the programme will be this year’s exhibition entitled Connection Point London, curated by Edward Lucie Smith and Max Presneill. The title refers to the capital’s reputation as the most international city on earth.  Co-curator Edward Lucie Smith explains that “Bow Arts is home to young artists from all over the world. It is the equivalent of La Rûche and Le Bateau Lavoir in early 20th century Paris – but bigger and culturally more various. The aim of this year’s exhibition has been to stress this ever-expanding internationalism.”  The exhibition will be in two parts at The Nunnery in Bow and the new SE1 Project Space in Bermondsey.  

The show, which features 30 Bow Arts artists working across a range of media, is international in more ways than one. One of the curators, Max Presneill, lives and works in Los Angeles, and the internet has enabled the two to come together to curate the show and will be the main medium used to promote it. This is London now – it will bring every visitor, whether they visit in person on online, into close contact with what is currently the world’s most exciting art scene.

These exhibitions are part of a fortnight of activity showcasing the rich variety of artists and projects under the Bow Arts umbrella. In Bow over the course of the weekend of the 17–19 June there will be opportunities to visit working studios of over 150 artists, join studio tours, attend salons, and listen to gallery talks - as well as attend the famous first night party and gallery opening on 17 June from 6.30pm.  

A week later the focus shifts south to the SE1 Project Space – the most exciting new gallery opening in South London this year. It is on the same site as the new SE1 Studios where over the weekend of the 24–26 June over 60 artists will be opening their studios to the public.

Finally, on 29 June, Bow Arts’ growing roster of over 60 LiveWork artists – the BAT Pack – open their own exhibition at the Mile End Arts Pavilion, Grove Road, Bow E3.

Bow Arts Open offers the public the rare opportunity to meet and engage with artists in their working environment, attracting local, national and international audiences, alongside collectors and curators looking for those hidden gems.

Bow Arts Open 2011 runs from Friday 17 June to Friday 8 July.
Connection Point London runs 18 June to 17 July at The Nunnery (181 Bow Road, London E3 2SJ), and 25 June to 17 July at SE1 Project Space (46 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SF).  All events are free to attend.  

For more details about and of the events, please contact Bow Arts Trust on 020 8709 5292, email nunnery@bowarts.com or visit http://www.thenunnery.co.uk

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Bow Arts is an arts education charity in East London. It provides artists studios and accomodation in East and South East London. It also offers wide reaching arts education provision and operates The Nunnery, a contemporary art gallery in Bow.