Live & Local Gets Creative . . . Again!

How a Midlands arts organisation turned their office into a gallery by supporting local artists

Having been part of the original Art Week in the 1990s when Warwickshire County Council started up a fund for ‘open studios’, not-for-profit arts organisation Live & Local began to show their support for Warwickshire Open Studios in a different way in the summer of 2021: staff members visited exhibitions around Shakespeare’s County, supplied with a small budget and the goal of purchasing an original artwork to display in their Warwick office.

This new tradition continued this year at the Summer Art Weeks that ran from 18th June to 3rd July. Celebrating their 22nd year, there were over 400 artists exhibiting at 149 venues across Coventry and Warwickshire, one of them being hosted by Live & Local’s Executive Director John Laidlaw.

John Laidlaw, Director of Live & Local who hosted the West Rock Gallery, said:?

‘The West Rock Gallery was opened up to the public as part of Warwickshire Open Studios. Local artists, Mandy Addenbrooke (tapestry weaver) and Kate Harvey (water colours and drawings), showed their work over two weekends as part of this annual showcase of 400 plus designer makers from all across the county. Personal studios, private houses, churches, village halls and many other spaces are thrown open for people to visit, view and buy from this wonderful range of art.’

The first pieces of art – ranging from paintings, screen prints to photography and pottery – were purchased for the Live & Local office last year. With this year’s purchases at the Summer Art Weeks the collection grew to 24 original art works.

Community Engagement Officer for Live & Local Rachael Osmotherley, who worked for a variety of heritage organisations with art / history collections such as The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry and the RSC artefact collection, said:

‘We have been excited to get out and see some more fantastic designer makers work around the county. We are thrilled to support local artists and at the same time add to our growing Live & Local Collection of original artworks. In the office, we benefit from being surrounded by creativity and keeping close relations with local creatives across the different artistic mediums. And it’s something we hope to grow in the future.’

This year, Live & Local staff bought pieces by local artists Fiona Metcalfe (at Jephson Studio, Leamington Spa), Carey Moon, Kay Elliott & Sue Southorn (at the Art Barn, Preston Bagot), Mary Stenning (at Art @ Carter Drive, Warwick), Jaine ThorntonWeeks (at Art in Dunchurch, Dunchurch) Charlie Orton (Kenilworth Art Club at Castle Hill Studio, Kenilworth), Jim Elliott (Art @ St. John’s, Kenilworth) and Frank Bagshaw & Eli Rees King (Cotswold Edge Studios, Evesham).

Steve Wilson, Artist Engagement Officer for Live & Local said:?

‘My family and I had a brilliant time at Warwickshire Open Studios on 3rd July. We went to Cotswold Edge Studios and purchased a number of pieces of art and one of the artists, Mike Bagshaw drew Chiara, our dog.’?

For further information please contact [email protected] and/or refer to our blog post about this year’s Warwickshire Open Studios.