Gallery’s annual open exhibition to return online this summer
21-year-old university student was diagnosed with ME in 2014
ATKINS Gallery’s popular annual Open Exhibition is set to return this summer, in an accessible online format.
In response to the current pandemic, Atkins Gallery will be creating a digital gallery to continue supporting local artists at www.atkinsbuilding. co.uk/gallery
A spokesperson said: “Atkins Gallery Online will show temporary exhibitions to replicate
A YOUNG woman has spoken out about her condition which imposes lockdown-like conditions on her daily life.
Laura Smith, 21, from Broughton Astley, has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a disease which affects the body’s ability to recover normally after any physical or mental activity.
The isolation that has affected many Britons over the last few months is a familiar experience to those who have ME, as they are restricted in seeing friends or getting outside and travelling.
Laura used to be a very active person, playing football three times a week, sometimes the planned 2020 programme as much as possible. It will also feature some special exhibitions that will be curated specifically for the digital medium.
“Online visitors will also be able to view some exhibitions that have previously taken place in Atkins Gallery, so anyone who missed a show can now access it online for free.
“Now the Atkins Gallery is calling all local artists to get cycling to and from training.
She was a hard-working student with top grades.
She said: “This all changed. I had to leave my football team, my attendance in school fell very low and my grades suffered.
“I ended up having to do an extra year of A levels.”
Laura was diagnosed in 2014 and before the lockdown hit she was starting to get her life back together.
She said: “I had play football again.
“Even if I only managed 10 minutes on the pitch usually before struggling with exhaustion, it was 10 minutes more than I have done in the last six years. started to their creative juices flowing around the 2020 theme of ‘Life in Lockdown.’ Artists are asked to consider how this time has affected them and what they have been up to during this recent change of pace.
“A range of interpretations of the theme are welcome so artists are urged to please get their paintbrushes out - or whatever their preferred medium is – and get their thinking caps on!”
“I had been shortlisted for the This Girl Can campaign at my university and I actually made the women’s varsity team for this year which was an incredible achievement.”
She added: “Since the lockdown I had to come home from university and leave all of that behind which has impacted my mental health very badly.
“Since I’ve not had my usual routine and the added stress of everything that’s going on my ME has flared and I’ve spent a lot of lockdown very sick with it.
“Even though the lockdown has caused a big change in my life, I have already built up coping mechanisms.
Atkins Building Principal Officer, Rebecca Wilbur said: “We would love to see what our local creative community has been up to during lockdown.
“How has it made you feel, what projects have you been able to complete or have you been able to explore something new?”
Atkins Open Exhibition 2020 is free to enter and exhibitors can submit up to three digital
“I know that music helps me a lot and I always make a ‘things to look forward to’ poster to stay positive.
“Living with ME makes you appreciate the small wins and the small things, and that’s what you’ve got to do in isolation. “That’s how you get through.” One in four people with ME are severely affected, and can remain house or bed-bound for months or even years, while some like Laura find that their symptoms improve.
More biomedical research is urgently needed to better understand the condition, and work towards improved treatment approaches. images of their work.
Artists are encouraged to please submit good quality photos of their artwork, there are resources available online which can provide tips on how to capture the artwork for digital presentation.
Exhibitors are encouraged to include a statement about each piece to give viewers an insight into their work and lockdown experiences.
During the lockdown, the essential support that people with ME rely on, such as supermarket deliveries and carers providing personal care, has been much harder to arrange.
Sonya Chowdhury, chief executive of Action for ME, said: “We have been contacted by people with ME in truly desperate situations.
“So we set up our new crisis, support and advocacy service to meet this urgent need, sourcing practical local assistance such as help with shopping and picking up medications, connecting people with peer support, and advising on the ongoing changes to welfare benefits.
The statements can also include social media handles, details about the medium used and size of the pieces. Artwork and statements should all be emailed to info@atkinsbuilding.co.uk
Submission of digital works is open from now to Friday 26 June 2020. Atkins Gallery Annual Open Online exhibition opens on 1 July and runs to 14 August 2020.
“So far, we have seen a threefold increase in requests for urgent support – all at a time when our income is expected to drop by at least 50 per cent.
“Like many other organisations and charities, we made the difficult decision to furlough several staff.
“We are continuing to make critical decisions to ensure we are here for people with ME, now and in the future.”
Anyone living with or caring for someone with ME, can contact Action for ME’s crisis, support and advocacy service by emailing questions@actionforme.org.uk or calling 0117 927 9551.