Rising Talent is an initiative with the specific aim of giving young and emerging artists an opportunity they would not necessarily get elsewhere.  That is, the opportunity to show their work in a commercial gallery and the experience that goes along with that. We think this may be a unique opportunity as artists can exhibit at no charge and the work is for sale*.

The exhibitions committee received many applications and have been overwhelmed not only by the quantity of submissions but, most importantly, by the quality. After considerable deliberation, they have selected the artists whose work will be exhibited. (The names of contributing artists will be published on this web page shortly).

Our newly appointed patron, Antony Penrose, has chosen to introduce himself to Arts Forum members and supporters at the open evening for this show, as this initiative resonates with his personal aims and interests.  Antony Penrose is co-director of the Lee Miller Archive and Penrose Collection at his parents’ former home, Farley Farm House. He is a photo-curator who gives lectures worldwide on photography, fine art and his parents’ work to museums and photographic societies and is accredited by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies. He is a director of the Farley Arts Trust, a registered charity, which he founded to promote art education in schools. The trust holds the biennial Farley’s Yard Arts Award for GCSE and A-level work from up to fourteen local comprehensive schools.

Hastings Arts Forum member, artist, writer and blogger, Valerie Grove, will be interviewing all the artists chosen to show their work in the Rising Talent exhibition and you will be able to find the results of these interviews on naturestrikesback.blogspot.co.uk