Members of the public can choose great British artworks to be part of the world’s largest art exhibition, on view on streets around the UK this summer, by selecting their favourite work from a list published on 21 June on artweverywhere.org.uk.
To help bring extraordinary art to billboards and bus-stops across Britain the public can donate as little as £3tobuythepaperandprintingforonepostersite. Thosewhodonate£15ormorewillberewarded with limited editions by British artist Bob and Roberta Smith.
The longlist of remarkable British artworks, dating from mediaeval to the contemporary, is online for ten days for the public to choose from. The dates of artworks range from c1340 – 2012 and include well-known works such as John Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral in the Meadows, J.M.W. Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire, John Millias’s Ophelia, L S Lowry’s Going To the Match and Francis Bacon’s Head VI. The list includes major artists such as William Blake, Barbara Hepworth, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Damien Hirst, as well as lesser- known artists spanning the centuries.
To produce the list, members of a selection panel were invited to each put forward 50 artworks that they felt were important and were both from a public collection and by a British artist. The list was edited to just over 100 artworks to ensure there was a balanced range of artists, subjects and periods.
The public can choose their favourite works by ‘liking’ them and sharing them through Facebook. Reproductions of the some of the most popular works – fifty in all – go on view on billboard sites across the UK for two weeks in August (10 – 25 August 2013) launching on 8 August 2013.
The public can choose their favourite works by ‘liking’ them and sharing them through Facebook. Reproductions of the some of the most popular works – fifty in all – go on view on billboard sites across the UK for two weeks in August (10 – 25 August 2013) launching on 8 August 2013.
Art Everywhere is a collaborative project between Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks, the Art Fund, Tate, and the poster industry.
The project is supported by many leading artists including Damien Hirst who said: “Art is for everyone, and everyone who has access to it will benefit from it. This project is amazing and gives the public a voice and an opportunity to choose what they want to see on their streets“
Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks initiated the idea for Art Everywhere. His passion for the arts led to the idea of having a public celebration across Britain. He said: “This is a joyful celebration with no agenda other than to flood our streets with art and celebrate the creative talents and legacy of this amazing country”.
Tate Director, Nicholas Serota said: “Tate has a commitment to reaching audiences across the UK, beyond the galleries in London, Liverpool and St Ives. We are delighted to have partnered with Art Everywhere in a celebration of British art that will bring some inspiring images to our streets and provoke conversation and debate about the characteristics of Britain and qualities of British Art”
Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund said: “The Art Fund is all about thousands of people coming together to bring great art into the public realm. Art Everywhere is based on the same premise. It’s about joining in, giving as little as £3, and putting a piece of great British art into the lives of friends, neighbours, strangers. And, by way of thanks, you’ll receive your own work of art by Bob and Roberta Smith to wear.”
Photo: Tracey Emin and Bob and Roberta Smith courtesy Tate