The Artist and The City

Public Previews - PMAG 3rd October, 6pm-8pm | AirSpace - 31st October, 7pm-9pm

A Two-Part collaborative group exhibition at AirSpace Gallery and The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on- Trent, curated by Jean Milton and Anna Francis.

Between 2014 and 2019 a consortium of art groups, led by B Arts, will be working together to re-imagine Stoke- on-Trent as an ‘Artcity’.

Artcity is a five-year, artist-led programme that aims to:

• Improve the quality of place and life in the city for those who live here
• Create a new story for the city - modelling new ideas for the city’s future.
• Make it easier for artists to access spaces in the city, to make things happen.

The project in particular, sets out Stoke- on-Trent as a place for art and artists to thrive. This two part, two-venue exhibition examines the situation for artists in Stoke-on-Trent, past and present, and examines the efficacy and viability of the notions and themes surrounding Artcity.

At The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, this timely exhibition aims to set the context of Artcity, demonstrating that artists have lived and worked in Stoke-on-Trent for hundreds of years, and setting out the particular experience of ‘The Artist and The City’ through an examination of the works of 4 well known artists, originally living or working in Stoke-on-Trent - George Cartlidge, John Currie, Grete Marks and Terry Shave- artists with strong connections to the city, who are well represented within the Museum’s collection, and whose work is also identified as being world class.

For these, and other important artists, Stoke- on-Trent has been close to their hearts, but has also been a place where it has been tough to survive; with many artists being forced to move to other cities to seek their fortunes. Artcity seeks to change this, setting out Stoke-on-Trent as a destination for artists from elsewhere, as well as a place for artists from here to remain, and to thrive. This exhibition aims to showcase some beautiful, important works from the Museum’s collection, revealing the history of these artists, their fascinating lives and connections to the city, while also providing an opportunity for the next generation of artists to explore the artists and their works, and what it means to be an artist living or working in the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

The curators have selected one work from each of these artists, to become the starting point for a new commission for 4 contemporary artists - David Bethell, Adam James, Carla Wright and Sophie Bard - with connections to the city of Stoke- on-Trent today and a perceived crossover or affinity with the works from the collection. These newly commissioned, responsive artworks are displayed alongside the artworks from the museum collection within the temporary exhibition space at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.