Aiming to bring colour to town...
TWO friends have started a notfor-profit art organisation that aims to “bring colour to Loughborough” and provide opportunities for upcoming artists.
Meg Bonser (23) and David Scarborough (26) are the brains behind ‘Modern Painters, New Decorators’ - a project which looks to host monthly art related activities including exhibitions, talks, events, markets and workshops.
Meg, of Whitwick, and David, who settled in Loughborough after moving to the town to attend university, came up with the idea as they feel artists have to look to towns to showcase their work.
Meg said: “We want it to be based in Loughborough and bring something new to the town as there is such a gap here.
“I paint and if I want to sell or host an exhibition I have to look further afield to Leicester or Nottingham.
“We want to bring opportunities for local and regional artists and we’re planning many events.
“We’re hoping to do exhibitions and hopefully get some talks lined up. “We want to see the area grow.” The pair are hosting their first event titled ‘Top Dollar’ on Friday, June 23, at the Loc8 Me premises in Ashby Square, Loughborough.
Top Dollar is described as an affordable one-night art sale which intends to support emerging artists and makers across the East Midlands while offering inexpensive art to the Loughborough community.
All art at the event will sold for £10 or less - which Meg explained is to challenge artists and makers to think about the cost of their materials, processes and time.
She said: “Top Dollar is a market opportunity for artists and makers to come and sell their work.
“The challenge is quite easy for craft makers but for contemporary artists it’s more about trying something new and thinking about the time it takes to make something.
“Loc8 Me are going to clear out their office for this, they’re in a really cool industrial space which I think will work well.
“We will be moving around to different spaces in Loughborough and we’re hoping eventually we can get Art Council funding for a permanent space.
“It will always be in Loughborough.”
Modern Painters, New Decorators are looking for Top Dollar submissions from all art forms.
All sale money from Top Dollar goes to the artist with a £3.50 administration fee to apply. Entries must be submitted by Monday, June 5.
For more information on the project and how to submit your work, visit the project’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ mpndprojects