We have an inspiring and creative year ahead on the local art scene.  As well as our popular Summer Art Trail, we’re launching a brand new Portrait Competition in the Autumn.   So mark your calendars.  And if you’d like to support our work, now’s a good time to become a Friend of Steyning Arts.  There’s some nice perks – you’ll get invites to launch parties and can come along to our ‘Meet the Artist’ evenings.

2019 Summer Art Trail 
Plans for the Summer Art Trail are coming together nicely.  We’ll have over 60 talented artists taking part across 20 local venues.  Once again, Steyning Museum will be our central ‘Trail Hub’, with examples of work from all the venues.  Trail maps will be available in shops and cafés around the area from early May.  The dates are:

• Sat 25th – Mon 27th May (the Bank Holiday and Summer Fair weekend)
• Sat 1st – Sun 2nd June

Portrait Artist of the Year Competition – September 21st
For this brand new venture we’ve teamed up with Steyning Grammar School (who have some seriously talented art students on their books) and the Friends of Steyning Parish Church (who are offering the historic St. Andrew’s Church as the venue).  Modelled loosely on the Sky TV series, it will be open to artists from Steyning and the surrounding area (not just members).  Contenders will need to submit an example of their work to be selected. A panel will chose nine artists to compete on the day, split among three professional models. They will be working against the clock and will have just four hours to produce a portrait, before the judging panel picks the winner.  The Church will be open to the public throughout, and will be able to watch the artists at work and try portrait painting themselves.  Applications open on 25th May and close on July 31st.

Become a Friend of Steyning Arts
The Friends scheme is designed for people who may not be practising artists themselves but would like to support and and become part of the vibrant artistic community in Steyning.  Friends are invited to take part in ‘Meet the Artist’ evenings, which happen six times a year (see below), and also get invites to openings for exhibitions and events – we like to throw a party!   It costs £15 per calendar year to become a Friend.  You sign up by clicking this link and filling in the online form.  Details of how to pay your subscription are on the website.

Meet the Artist Spring season – booking open for Friends 
These are a great way to meet local artists and learn about their motivations, creative process and techniques.  It’s nice and informal – drinks and nibbles are part of the picture.  Numbers are limited so sign up to be a Friend if you’re interested, and we’ll forward the booking link.  Just to tempt you, here’s the programme for the Spring series (there will be another in the Autumn):

Meet the Artist No 1:  Thurs 7 March (7-9pm)
Artist: Tamar Rose 
A chance to visit Tamar’s delightful studio and see her latest stunning porcelain work.

Meet the Artist No 2: Mon 8 April (7-9pm)
Artist: Robin Cooper-Hannan 
Striking and intriguing work in oil from one of our newer members.

 
Meet the Artist No 3 (7-9pm):  Mon 10 June
Artist: Eve Chalcraft
A mixed media delight in Eve’s charming Garage Studio.

New show at The Basement 93 – ‘Black & White’
Have you spotted that The Basement 93 have recently launched a second show at their stylish new gallery at 93 The High Street. The focus this time is on work in various mediums in Black & White.  Artists appearing include Emma Gillo, Jamie Ampleforth, Polly Finch, Rachael Saunders, Rob Winterson, and Suzanne Conboy-Smith – plus some photographs of mine.

The Steyning Arts Portrait Competition is an exciting new event of live portraiture. The event will run over the course of one day in St Andrews Church, Steyning on September 21st 2019. Models will be provided and the entrants have one day to create their portraits. The competition will be open to local artists and there will be a prize for the winner. We are still working on the details of this new event for Steyning Arts. Watch this space!

Some dates for your diary.

The Steyning Arts  Art Trail 2019
Saturday 25th, Sunday 27th, Monday 28th May
Saturday 1st June, Sunday 2nd June