Campaigner lauds Sefton Open Art Exhibition
David Barton has his say on the issues facing Southport and Sefton.
David Barton is urging people to support the Sefton Open Annual Art Exhibition
Written by David Barton
A prominent campaigner for the heritage of Sefton is proposing that more people partake in and support the Sefton Open Annual Art Exhibition in a move to bolster the Arts and Borough’s grant funding prospects overall.
The Atkinson Arts Gallery houses over 3,000 pieces dating between the 17th to the 21st Centuries, including specialist 18th Century Portrait Collections. These are broadly covered by three main categories: Fine Art; Sefton’s History and The Botanic Gardens Museum in addition to the newly incorporated Art UK Shop which began in 2020.
All money raised from sales of reproductions and prints supports the ongoing collections care, public engagement & learning programmes.
The Sefton Open has ran every year since 2013 after a lengthy refurbishment and restoration of the Old Build and provides people of all ages, notably local Community Artists to display and exhibit their work for sale. Pieces have ranged from streetscapes and local vistas to historical figures alike.
David Barton, former Councillor for the Dukes Ward covering the Town Centre and West Birkdale, believes that the Sefton Open is a brilliant way to showcase the skill and talents of many aspiring and accomplished artists whilst making a practical difference to the area economically long-term if so supported.
The community campaigner, whose ultimate focus has been and remains the restoration of Sefton, has raised this topic before in 2014, but now wishes to see a greater effort taken to encourage more people to either take part directly or even purchase a painting. He affirms that this is an excellent means of utilising the long-established Community Centre and again highlighting the significance of Traditional Vernacular Architecture which is a core strength for the area.
Mr. Barton says: “The Sefton Open is an invaluable commodity that has become a well-respected part of the community fabric for almost a decade now.”
He says: “In being able to highlight the many different acute abilities of so many wondrous individuals and groups, up and down the Sefton region, this has also had the benefit in building the confidence of those more discerning people that may otherwise not have exhibited their work previously.”
“I myself having purchased two prints in years gone by have been amazed at the sheer quality conjured in these fine artworks and would encourage anyone that is or may yet contribute a painting to the Exhibition to create more signature designs of the magnificent traditional architecture across Southport and the Borough.”
Mr. Barton has chosen to credit a plethora of Community Groups that have partaken in the Sefton Open to date by means of incentivising others to support or get involved at a future Exhibition:
- Southport Palette Club
- Association of Formby Artists
- Coastal Creative
- Kew Art Club
- Sefton Art Club
- Sefton Artists
- South Sefton Artists
- Southport Contemporary Arts
- Southport Watercolor Class
- Atkinson Arts Centre- Curator, Management & Personnel
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