Exciting exhibition by emerging artists at Skipton Town Hall

As it waits to find out in just a couple of weeks whether Craven Museum, housed in the town hall, is named Museum of the Year, beating other prestigious finalists such as London's National Portrait Gallery, it is welcoming ever increasing numbers to its exhibition gallery.

Yorkshire's Emerging Artists, a free exhibition which runs throughout the summer to September, will also give visitors a chance to see the work of artists at the start of their careers - so, who knows, the early works of a future David Hockney, Tracey Emin or Damien Hurst, may be on show now in Skipton.

The exciting exhibition features the work of 38 artists from across Yorkshire, working in a diverse array of disciplines and media including painting, sculpture, photography, film, and textiles.

The exhibition celebrates the rich and varied talents of artists who are living, studying, or originating from Yorkshire. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore and buy artworks selected from an 'open call' issued earlier this year, which attracted more than 150 submissions. The artworks delve into themes such as the environment, identity, social issues, and activism, offering thought-provoking perspectives on contemporary topics.

Danielle Daglan, head of culture and archives at North Yorkshire Council, which owns the town hall, said: "This summer exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for our visitors to explore and support the thriving emerging artistic community in Yorkshire. The variety and quality of the artwork submitted was amazing – we are looking forward to working with the artists to share this special exhibition with our visitors. We really wanted to celebrate being part of Yorkshire’s vast cultural community - the exhibition is a true testament to the creativity that can be found across our region."

A panel of Yorkshire-based judges, including freelance illustrator Ekaterina Sheath and Kirklees Museums and Galleries visual arts curator Janine Sykes, selected the artworks which form the exhibition.

The chosen artists range from final-year students and recent graduates from prestigious institutions like Leeds Arts University and The Ruskin School of Art, as well as those who have taken up art after moving away from alternative careers.

One of the featured artists is Jasmine Foo, an emerging artist based in York and a recent graduate of University of the Arts London (UAL) with a degree in illustration and visual Media.

She said: "'Being selected for the emerging artists exhibition in Skipton Town Hall is such an exciting experience for me as an artist who is just starting out in the creative world. I graduated from university last year and so I am always looking for opportunities to get my work out there to share what I have to say through my work. My crochet animation tapestry 'stuck in a loop' centres around themes of mental health which I am eager to spark conversations about."

The exhibition gallery at Skipton Town Hall offers free entry to visitors and presents a dynamic programme of exhibitions highlighting local and national artists, craftspeople, community projects, and selections from the Craven Museum collection. Recent exhibitions have highlighted North Yorkshire Open Studios members, contemporary craftspeople, and local A-Level and GCSE art students.

Yorkshire’s Emerging Artists at Skipton Town Hall Exhibition Gallery will run from Saturday 15 June – Monday 2 September 2024. Admission to the exhibition is free. Find more information and gallery opening times by visiting skiptontownhall.co.uk The town hall is also home to Craven Museum which last year was name Kids in Museum's Family Friendly Museum and also Best Accessible Museum.

Meanwhile, next month it will find out it has won the world's largest museum prize - being named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024.

Craven Museum is up against just four others - Dundee Contemporary Arts in Dundee, Manchester Museum in Manchester, National Portrait Gallery in London, and Young V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery in London on July 10 and will receive £120,000. £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund said: "Congratulations to Craven Museum on being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024.

“Each of our finalists truly has something for everyone and all have community at the very heart of their programming.

“Across a wide range of size and scale, these organisations are all real leaders in their field. I urge everyone to go and visit these extremely special spaces."

On behalf of Craven Museum, Danielle Daglan, speaking at the time, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year; to have the work of this small but hugely dedicated and passionate team recognised by this award is amazing.

“Craven Museum at Skipton Town Hall sits at the heart of its community.

“We believe all communities deserve the highest quality cultural experiences – this is our ethos, and we think small museums have the potential to lead the way in innovation of access and community engagement - we are proof of this and we want to inspire others to do the same.’’