MY... Oxfordshire Schools’ Art Exhibition
13 – 29 September 2008
Press View: Friday 12 September, 1pm-3pm
The largest ever exhibition of art by children in Oxfordshire will be presented at Modern Art Oxford this autumn. Over 1,000 artworks will be on display. The exhibition celebrates the culmination of a yearlong countywide visual arts project that involved 350 schools, thousands of children, ten artist residencies, four international partners and cultural sites in Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire County Council, Modern Art Oxford and Arts Council England South East.
Andrew Nairne, Director of Modern Art Oxford, said: “MY… reflects Modern Art Oxford’s commitment to working with schools, encouraging personal creativity and engagement with the contemporary visual arts.”
Sarah Mossop, Head of Education, said: “We are delighted to present the MY… exhibition at Modern Art Oxford. We hope that as many of the children and young people who took part as possible will visit the gallery to see their work on display.”
The children took their inspiration from the theme of MY… (My…Tree, My… World, My…Rabbit, My… House, My… Street, My… Window, for example), and from international artists and cultural sites such as Blenheim Palace, The Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxford University Harcourt Arboretum and the Cowley Road in Oxfordshire, to consider what they valued most highly and to find imaginative and visually create ways to express it.
The MY… project has also involved international partners in Istanbul, Turkey, Baltimore in the USA, Kampala, Uganda and Valletta, Malta.
All of the work produced during the project will be displayed in the exhibition, either in the galleries at Modern Art Oxford or on the MY… website at www.oxonart.org
The exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of free activities. Further details will be available at www.modernartoxford.org.uk and www.oxonart.org
Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP. Tel. 01865 722733. Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. During the MY… exhibition only, between 13 and 19 September, the Gallery will also be open on Mondays from 10am-2pm. Admission is free.
Ends
For further press information and images of the project and completed artworks, please contact:
Sara Dewsbery, Press and Marketing Officer on 01865 813813, sara.dewsbery@modernartoxford.org.uk or
Bryony McCombe, MY… Project Director, bryony.mccombe@oxfordshire.gov.uk
MY… is supported by: Oxfordshire County Council, Arts Council England South East, Oxford City Council, RM.
With thanks to: Blenheim Palace, University of Oxford Harcourt Arboretum, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, ARC.
Notes to Editors
MY… Events
A conference will take place at Modern Art Oxford on Tuesday 23 September, including an opportunity for headteachers; head of Art & Design departments; secondary art teachers; primary/special/nursery art coordinators; all teachers/teaching assistants; artists; educators and other interested parties to see the exhibition and review an inspirational year of residencies and workshops. There will be presentations from artists and pupils; visiting speakers from the Arts Council, QCA and Creative Partnerships will give a national perspective on trends in art education.
Other events include Saturday tours led by artists and project leaders, a Family Day on Saturday 27 September, talks for schools and groups, the Modern Art Trolley every weekend (facilitated by students from Oxford School), an exhibition guide for families (written and designed by pupils from Oxford School) and an ARC networking event focusing on the valuable contribution artists make to school and gallery education projects. Full details will be available at www.modernartoxford.org.uk and www.oxonart.org