Bolton’s creative talents will go on show at Bolton Museum’s Open Art exhibition, which opens to the public on Saturday.
The Open Art competition was open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Bolton.
A new feature of this year’s competition is the Young Artist Award, which was open to young people aged 16 to 21.
The submitted artworks were considered by a panel of independent judges, including Helen Beckett, curator at Touchstones Art Gallery in Rochdale, and Ged Young, Programme Lead at Bolton School of the Arts.
They were joined by a young people’s panel.
This year, the museum had 190 pieces of work submitted, and the judges had the difficult task of selecting the final pieces for the show.
The judges also awarded two prizes. The winner’s prize of £1,000, which was sponsored by the University of Bolton, was won by Alicja Ostrowska for her large sculpture, ‘Light and Weight’.
The Young Artist Award, worth £250 and sponsored by Bolton at Home, went to local sixth form student Maizie McLaren for her highly accomplished drawing, ‘Hold On’.
The exhibition will run at Bolton Museum from Saturday, December 10, 2022, to Sunday, February 26, 2023.
Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said:
“The Open Art exhibition at Bolton Museum is always hugely popular with local artists, as shown by the fact that over 120 people entered this year.
“It’s a unique opportunity for amateur and professional artists alike to have their work on display in an established and well-known venue.”
“I think everyone who visits the exhibition will enjoy it. It’s a real celebration of the wealth of artistic talent here in Bolton.”