Norfolk's Princely Family exhibition opens
The exhibition will be open from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday from 4 July until 29 September at The Archive Centre, Martineau Lane, NR1 2DQ.

A new exhibition is being held at the Norfolk Record Office, exploring the life of Maharajah Duleep Singh, the last emperor of the Punjab, and his family.

Over 150 years ago, the Duleep Singhs purchased the Elevden Estate near Thetford and made East Anglia their new home. For the next century the family continued to live in the region, from Old Buckenham, Hockwold, Blo’ Norton, Breckles, and Walcot.

On 4 July the doors will open to a three month exhibition on the lives of this extraordinary family, with artefacts and objects loaned from the renowned collection of Peter Bance, who has spent 25 years amassing this largely unseen archive, much of which will go on display for the first time.

Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “We look forward to welcoming people to this new exhibition. Norfolk is a diverse county which is proud of its history.
“This project celebrates the life and work of a very influential family who made a real impact on the county, which one can still see today.”

The Peter Bance Collection is one of the largest associated with the Duleep Singhs, with many items being sourced directly from the family’s friends and associates. Highlights include the Maharajah’s velvet Indian Jacket, his shooting paraphernalia with which he shot game at Norfolk parties with the Prince of Wales, textiles and apparel of the Princesses, the family’s photograph albums, and personal intimate letters.

The family’s legacy is still present today, from the Ancient House Museum, which was donated by Prince Frederick, to the numerous Norfolk churches he saved from closure and restored. He went on to join the Norfolk Yeomanry and later served in the First World War, and even built War Memorials for those who fell.

The Princesses were not only active Suffragists supporting the rights for women to vote but the youngest, Sophia, belonged to the renowned Suffragettes and gave a gift of over 200 portraits to the Town of Thetford from the family collection. The town is home to the Maharajah’s equestrian bronze statue at Butten Island.

The exhibition has been organised by the Anglo Punjab Heritage Foundation, and supported by the Essex Cultural Diversity Project.

At The Halls, Sunday 15 May 2022
The stage is set for Gandini juggling , one of the early events of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival at St Andrew’s Hall. A mixed audience, clearly attracting all ages for this skilful, clever and entertaining juggling act like no other. It’s a return visit to Norwich as they performed Smashed at Norwich Playhouse, with a full range of vintage crockery - which was, well, smashed by the end of the show
This is Smashed 2, the followup, which has toured around the world before landing in Norwich. It is set to be more fruity than Smashed, and I am predicting a bit of a smoothie mashup by the end, if the last show anything to go by.

The scene tonight is set with a stage full of chairs and fruit. Oranges and melons dotted around the floor and 9 chairs give a flavour of what is to come. More accustomed to classical concerts, this 15th century Dominican friary hall is all dressed up with a huge lighting gantry bathing the steps and massive pipe organ in purple light.

As the jugglers came on stage, 7 women, bare limbs and dresses, and 2 men in suits and ties, strut across the stage with suggestive moves, eye contact with the audience as they juggle oranges in sequence, passing the fruit between them, over under and behind their heads and around their bodies in a perfectly synchronised and choreographed visual complexity revealing a combination of extreme dance and juggling skills combined with humour and fun - perfect for a Sunday evening. This is the first of several ‘sketches’ each with a different emphasis. that will make up the hour-long show. The music too, is carefully chosen to complement the largely silent sequences of tightly arranged moves, including a punk anthem and opera as well as popular classics.
There is a fair amount of sexual politics throughout the show from seduction to upskirting, explicit sexuality and sensuous touches though, as the men are outnumbered, they seem to come off worst and the women are triumphant in abusing the men quite severely it seems, without allowing the men much leeway. Throughout, the jugglers, male and female strive to disrupt and distract their fellows who keep going in spite of being man-handled and their routines disturbed. All takes place with good humour between them, as they carry on regardless.
Of course, oranges are easier to juggle than watermelons as you can imagine but a circle of women with the heavy fruit balanced on their bare feet rolled them about, not as niftily as the oranges but still an impressive feat - maybe this was the least successful sequence though as it also was hard for the audience to see.

There was also drama as well as humour. A gunfight uses red silk scarves to cover the stage with ‘bloody’ corpses with even the gun-person succumbing to death by red scarf. And darker still, the last sequence is a dramatic and relentless slow-motion death-scene played to an operatic sound track - the ‘beating up’ of one of the hapless men who finds himself on the floor surrounded by women whilst the remaining male turns up too late to save him from the grinning pack. Pretty violent. And very effective.

And yes, Smashed 2 - inevitably, it all started to break down as the previously organised and tightly sequenced jugglers went feral, squeezing and smashing fruit all over the stage. It started with a thumb inserted in a juicy and messy orange and broke down from there until there were watermelons and oranges musshed all over everything, including another beleagured man who lay spread-eagled and dominated by a melon-bearing megalomaniac torturess who threatened his most precious body parts.

Chaos reigned for the last five minutes until the stage was entirely covered with a sticky mess as predicted until the jugglers stood up together and took a 9-person, synchronised bow. Hoorah!
Looking forward to Smashed 3 already.

East of England’s biggest Art Fair returns for 2021

One of the biggest contemporary art fairs outside of London is set to return for 2021. Art Fair East annually hosts artists, galleries and art dealers from across the world, attracting thousands of visitors to St Andrews Hall in Norwich, Norfolk. The fair, now in its sixth year, will re-emerge to share the buzz of the real-life art world after last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

With around 1,000 artworks on display, a range of contemporary art will be exhibited including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video art, installation, performance and original limited edition prints. This year’s fair will run from Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th December at St Andrews Hall in Norwich.

As the major art fair for the East, the fair was founded in 2015 by leading Norfolk-based artists Will Teather and Brian Korteling, who will both be exhibiting at the event. The pair are passionate about bringing contemporary art to the region, supporting artists and creating excitement around the visual arts.

Mr Teather, who has had his work showcased at New York's Market & Design Fair, said: “We are thrilled to see the fair finally return after an extraordinary year. We can't wait to see the artworld we know and love start to reemerge. “Artworks are objects to be seen and enjoyed in the flesh, rather than online, and there is nothing quite like meeting the artist in person or talking to an expert, as is often possible at art fairs. “We have received a record number of applications to take part in the event and alongside national and international artists being brought by dealers we already have many local talents, including both figurative surrealists like Chedgie and landscape painters like Alice Wilton, on board.”

Mr Korteling added: “It's really great to be able to transform St Andrews Hall into an art space once again. I know for a fact that artists have not been resting on their laurels during lockdown so we can expect to see lots of new, vibrant and inspirational works of art.”

Organisers have also confirmed a new sponsor for this year’s event. East Anglian wealth management firm Chadwicks are supporting Art Fair East alongside longstanding supporters Musker McIntyre Estate Agents.

Mr Teather said: “We are delighted to have Chadwicks joining us alongside our long-term sponsors Musker McIntyre, who have stood by us since the fair was just a pipe-dream. These two outward-looking dynamic companies, that serve the Eastern Region, reflect our ongoing vision for the event to be a major Art Fair for the East of England. Long may it continue."

Director of Chadwicks Richard Ross said: “We are delighted to support this event alongside Musker McIntyre. This year it seems particularly important that the events go ahead. “It has been an extremely difficult year for everyone, particularly the arts, culture and entertainment sectors. Supporting Art Fair East will not only provide a real boost for the sector, but for the local business community too – and give clear signal for better times ahead! “The most important thing we do with our clients is to help them look at things differently so it’s wonderful for us to be able to support such a prestigious art fair.”

Independent estate agents Musker McIntyre have been supporting Art Fair East since the event launched in 2015. Owner of Musker McIntyre Estate Agents & Financial Services Simon McIntyre said: “After a tough 18 months, especially for the arts, I think it's important to have something to celebrate. “I truly believe the arts should be supported - after all where would we be without art?! Art Fair East showcases some of the brightest talent in the region, bringing together artists across all genres under one roof. That's why the team at Musker McIntyre are proud to support the event again this year.”

There is still time for artists, dealers and galleries to apply to exhibit at the event - visit www.artfaireast.com

 20 July 2021 
Appointment of new Director for the Sainsbury Centre: Jago Cooper
UEA and the Board of the Sainsbury Centre have appointed Jago Cooper as the new Director of the Centre and Professor of Art and Archaeology, who starts on Monday 15 November. 

Professor Cooper has spent more than 20 years working on a diverse range of cultural projects around the world, always centred on the study and communication of visual and material culture. 
After ten years as Head of the Americas Section at the British Museum and Director of the Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research, these collaborations have led to a series of innovative exhibitions, artistic commissions and international exchange programmes that challenge traditional museum practice. 

With a particular interest in using digital technologies to reach new audiences and cut across multiple academic disciplines, his work spans the subjects of art, museology and archaeology. In addition to his books and exhibitions, Jago has also written and presented a series of BBC documentaries based on his research and international collaborations. 

Professor Cooper said: “Since its inspired creation in the 1970s, the Sainsbury Centre has always been a place that breaks the rules in how Art and Culture should be seen and experienced. I am absolutely delighted to be joining such an inspirational institution that brings powerful stories to a global audience through its outstanding collections. 

“I can’t wait to start working with the team to develop further the exciting programme of upcoming exhibitions, acquisitions and collaborative projects inspired by the Sainsbury collection and in many ways also by the world-leading research carried out at UEA.” 

Dominic Christian, Chair of Sainsbury Centre board, said: “It with enormous pleasure and great warmth that we are delighted to welcome Jago as the new Director of the Sainsbury Centre. He is truly an outstanding talent. 

“Thanks to the excellence of both the Executive Director Paul Greenhalgh, and Acting Director Ghislaine Wood, Jago comes to an environment proud of its history, excited at its future and thrilled at the leadership he will bring to it.” 

Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at UEA, said: “The University looks forward to working with Jago and all the team at the Sainsbury Centre to support their work and extend our collaborations in research, learning, engagement and innovation activity. 

“We are proud of our association with such a wonderful beacon for visual arts on our campus and excited about the possibilities of creating new connections amongst faculty as well as with regional and international partners.” 

Notes: 
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is one of the most important public university art galleries in Britain. It was founded in 1973 at the University of East Anglia (UEA) with the support of one of the nation’s great philanthropic families, Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury, who donated their extraordinary art collection which includes works dating from prehistory to the late 20th century from across the globe. A radical new building by Norman Foster was designed to house the collection and was his first public work. 

The Sainsbury Centre holds one of the most impressive art collections outside of the national institutions. It includes a significant number of works by modern masters of European art such as Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Jacob Epstein, Jean Arp, Chaïm Soutine and Amedeo Modigliani. There are major holdings from Oceania, Africa, the Americas, Asia, the ancient Mediterranean cultures of Egypt, Greece and Rome, as well as Medieval Europe. Alongside these permanent collections, it hosts a range of exhibitions in the largest suite of temporary exhibitions galleries in Eastern England. sainsburycentre.ac.uk 

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a UK Top 25 university and is ranked in the top 50 globally for research citations. Known for its world-leading research and good student experience, it was awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework and is a leading member of Norwich Research Park, one of Europe’s biggest concentrations of researchers in the fields of environment, health and plant science. In 2020/21, UEA celebrated 50 years of Creative Writing education and research. www.uea.ac.uk 

Very pleased to announce that the Norfolk Arts Visual Arts Award category is a 'win/win' with one of our group, Gennadiy Ivanov nominated, as well as Norwich 20 Group!

Here's a link to online coverage, with a report in today's EDP and Evening News - on p2 of the What's On section.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/things-to-do/days-out/norfolk-arts-awards-nominees-announced-8142720

Attached is an image of many group members from one of our monthly open meetings (photo taken by Simon Marshall - thanks), which we very much hope can resume from September.

A few words from current Chair, Brigitte Hague:

'I’m absolutely delighted to hear we have been nominated for a Norfolk Arts Award!  

It’s been a very difficult time for everyone in the arts this year and it’s been a true team effort between the committee and members to keep in touch with everyone and ensure we were able to exhibit. 

Norwich 20 Group has a long history of being an active part of the local art scene, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has contributed to our activities over recent years - helping to support our members and bring art to the local community during the pandemic.

Many thanks to the Hostry Festival and EDP for all their support and recognition.

Many congratulations to N20G member Gennadiy Ivanov too, who is also shortlisted for his own projects which bring together works which often highlight difficult subjects. Recognition well deserved for all the hard work'.

Japan Water, GroundWork Gallery's current exhibition, is attracting some wonderful reactions and comments from visitors. Not only is it full of spectacular images, but they are thought-provoking, causing us to reflect, literally, on the qualities of our water. So, join us and some starry speakers for some fascinating water events. The first, on the Purity of Water, is part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on 21st May. The second, on the Power of Water is on 25 June, just a week after the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Details are below.

The Purity of Water May 21st, 2 - 4 BST (on Zoom)

Mirror Pond by Nana Shiomi is one of the images which made us realise that we should start our thinking from the work in the exhibition. Crystal clarity is something quite special to Japan's water and present in many striking images. But how does that relate to real life? Is it an ideal, or does it hide deeper problems of pollution? Is the cleanliness and clarity of water something we share in the UK?
In the company of a number of specialists in different fields we will spend an afternoon talking about pure water and the environment.

Speakers include
Keynote 1: Professor Veronica Strang (Environmental anthroloplogist and author of The Meaning of Water)
Nana Shiomi (exhibiting artist
Isao Miura (exhibiting artist)
Jonah Tosney (Norfolk Rivers Trust)
Louise Bleach (Water Purification expert, Desolenator)
Matthew Whaley ( Water consultant, Arup)

Further details and booking: https://www.groundworkgallery.com/events/the-purity-of-water/
Click through here to book via Eventbrite direct

The Power of Water
June 25th,  2-6 BST (on Zoom)

This event starts from the work of Jonathan Meuli on the immense power of the wave, and from Hakan Topal's ongoing research about catastrophe and international waters. This led him to 2 artistic residencies in Japan and research in Miyagi Prefecture, to examine the  impacts on the coastal communities of the devastating Tsunami, earthquake and nuclear power disasters of 2011.
As well as discussing the power of water as a physical phenomenon and as a political force, we will talk about responses to water disasters, and some of their impacts on arts and heritage.

Speakers include
Keynote 2: Professor Veronica Strang (Environmental anthropologist and author of the Meaning of Water)
Jonathan Meuli (exhibiting artist)
Hakan Topal (exhibiting artist)
Makoto Takahashi (scientist, Technical University, Munich)
Simon Kaner (director Sainsbury Institute for Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures)
Jack Heslop (water engineer, WSP)
Adrian Favell (Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds)

Further details and booking: https://www.groundworkgallery.com/events/the-power-of-water/
Click through here to book via Eventbrite direct
 
We are delighted to be included as part of Norfolk and Norwich Festival - which starts in a few days, and with quite a few events you can actually join physically! There is also this online discussion event which might be of interest: https://nnfestival.org.uk/whats-on/why-biennials-2/
 
And while on the subject of festivals, you might be interested a new one starting this year. EA Festival will be based in the grounds of the beautiful venue of Castle Hedingham and taking place from 31st July - 1st August. Largely based around East Anglian talent, it is 'showcasing creative leaders in art and culture', including many well-known media personalities. As one of its programming strands, it is featuring the environment as a subject for discussion and entrepreneurship. 
 
There is a lot more to tell you, and there are some exciting GroundWork Gallery projects coming up for the remainder of the year. They will feature in following mailings, but in the meantime, have a look at the website for info. 
https://www.groundworkgallery.com/groundwork_projects/extraction-projects/
https://www.groundworkgallery.com/groundwork_projects/extraction-projects/

And please do come and visit !!!
Japan Water is open Wednesday to Saturday 11-4 until 31st July
No need to book - just come
 

The Norfolk & Norwich Festival has stepped up to get the summer kick-started with a bang. Taking an early decision to deliver a festival come what may, they have used Covid recovery funding to enable them to offer a remodelled 'pay what you want' festival of events which meant that the programme could go ahead come what may. Brilliant thinking on behalf of the team.

Our wonderful city and county is waking up, with a mass of concerts, performances and exhibitions which demonstrate the resilience and commitment of our arts sector. Nit that I am suggesting that it has been easy - it has demanded a huge amount of extra work and innovation to make it happen. So, please get out there and (safely) enjoy the work that the artists have created. But be quick as bookings are filling up fast as you would expect. Scroll down for a summary timetable of events but of course the website will offer more info.

NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL – BOOKING NOW OPEN
17 - 30 MAY 2021
www.nnfestival.org.uk

● BOOKING NOW OPEN FOR THE THE SPECIALLY REMODELLED ‘PAY WHAT YOU WANT’ FESTIVAL
● THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES MUSIC, PERFORMANCE, VISUAL ART AND LITERATURE AT INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENUES ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL AS ONLINE
● FESTIVAL RUNS MONDAY 17 MAY – SUNDAY 30 MAY 2021

​Public booking is now open for Norfolk & Norwich Festival. 
The 14-day event is set to be a specially created one-off adaptation including outdoor and socially distanced performance, art and music as well as a digital strand. The full programme was announced last week and can be seen in the attached press release, or online here.  Also attached are highlights of the literature and music programmes. All events require booking, though everything in this year’s programme is either free or ‘pay what you want’.
 
The programme, which is slightly smaller than usual, is designed to be as adaptable as possible given current circumstances, and created with a desire to provide employment opportunities for artists, as well as entertainment and a sense of community pride. The ‘pay what you want’ structure has been designed by Festival organisers and partners to encourage as many people as want to find something within the Festival that they might enjoy.
 
The Festival will take place in venues across the city and county, as well as at the newly reopened Festival Gardens where a brand-new Festival music weekend has been announced in collaboration with Wild Paths - Garden Sessions. Festival Gardens will also see the return of the much-loved Garden Party over the middle weekend.
 
All Festival events will be in line with government guidelines. To stay in touch with the latest news and programme announcements visit nnfestival.org.uk or follow the Festival’s social media channels.
 
Norfolk & Norwich Festival usually takes place in Norwich and around Norfolk for 17 days each May. The programme is multi-artform, contemporary, international and audience-centred, collaborating with artists from down the road and around the world. Full information and listings for all Norfolk & Norwich Festival events at nnfestival.org.uk.

LISTINGS
Norfolk & Norwich Festival will run from 17 – 30 May 2021
Tickets are on sale to the public from 10am on Thursday 15 April with priority booking opening to Supporters at 10am on Friday 9 April and Friends at 10am on Tuesday 13 April.
Box Office 01603 531800, online nnfestival.org.uk, or in person at Chantry Place (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays).
All tickets are free or pay what you want.

EVENT LISTINGS
Don’t Touch Duckie
A Socially Distanced Launch for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2021
Monday 17 May, 7.30pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want.
A Norfolk & Norwich Festival Commission Sponsored by PWC.
 
Emergency Exit Arts, Robert Montgomery & Deanna Rodger
Recovery Poems
Monday 17–Sunday 23 May
Across Norfolk
Free

Yara + Davina
Arrivals + Departures
Monday 17–Sunday 30 May, Throughout the day
The Forum
Free

World Premiere
Kaleider : Robot Selfie
Monday 17–Sunday 23 May
Norwich City Centre
Free

600 Highwaymen
A Thousand Ways (Part One): A Phone Call
Presented In Partnership with In Between Time
UK premiere
Monday 17–Saturday 22 May, various times
Pay What You Want

Britten Sinfonia presents
Surround Sound: Norwich Playlist
Tuesday 18 May, 6.30pm & 9pm
Norwich Cathedral
Pay What You Want

Luke Styles and Jessica Walker
The People’s Cabaret
Tuesday 18 May, 7.30pm Diss Corn Hall, Wednesday 19 May, 7.30pm Sheringham Little Theatre
Pay What You Want

Sarathy Korwar
Thursday 20 May, 6pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Abel Selaocoe
Wednesday 19 May, 6pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Hatis Noit
Thursday 20 May, 9pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Nabihah Iqbal
Wednesday 19 May, 9pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Creative Norfolk: Creative Individuals  Norfolk Making in a Time of Mayhem
Thursday 20 May, 5pm Digital
Pay What You Want

Garden Party
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 May, 11am–5pm
Festival Gardens, Chapelfield and Outside The Forum
Free, but you must pre-book

World Premiere
Requardt & Rosenberg
Future Cargo
Thursday 20 May, 6pm & 8pm
Festival Gardens, Chapelfield
Pay What You Want Produced by The Place.

The Javaad Alipoor Company
Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran
Thursday 20 & Friday 21 May, 7.30pm
Digital : Pay What You Want

Creative Norfolk: Why Biennials?
Monday 24 May, 7.30pm
Digital : Free

Creative Norfolk : Hunt and Darton
The Mum Show
Saturday 22 May, 4pm
Future Radio : Free

Creative Norfolk: Genevieve Rudd, in partnership with original projects
Yarmouth Springs Eternal Conference Saturday 22 May, throughout the day PRIMyarc, Market Gates Shopping Centre, Great Yarmouth
Free, but you must pre-book

I Fagiolini
Re-Wilding The Waste Land
Monday 24 May, 8pm
Cathedral of St John the Baptist
Pay What You Want

Lotte Betts-Dean & Joseph Havlat
From Norfolk to Newfoundland: Folk Songs of the World
Tuesday 25 May, 1pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

World Premiere
Creative Norfolk: holding hands / Article XI Double Bill
Tuesday 25 May, 8pm The Garage, Norwich A double-bill of two large jazz ensembles featuring some of the most exciting improvisers from around the UK.
Pay What You Want

Manchester Collective and Mahan Esfahani
Friday 21 May, 8pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Samson Tsoy
Wednesday 26 May, 1pm
St Andrew’s Hall
Pay What You Want

Tim Spooner with Matthew Robins
Weak Transmission
Wednesday 26–Saturday 29 May, throughout the day
The Guildhall Cells, Norwich
Pay What You Want

Blast Theory : Rider Spoke
Thursday 27–Saturday 29 May, throughout the day
Meet at Festival Gardens, Chapelfield
Pay What You Want

Garden Sessions : In Collaboration with Wild Paths
Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 May, 1–5pm
Festival Gardens, Chapelfield
Pay What You Want

Ray Lee : Ring Out
Wednesday 26–Friday 28 May,throughout the day
Festival Gardens
Free, but you must pre-book

Compline by Candlelight
Friday 28 May, 9pm
Norwich Cathedral
Free, but you must pre-book

Creative Norfolk: Holly Bodmer
Peregrinations
Saturday 29 May, 2pm Norwich Cathedral
Pay What You Want

Norwich Chamber Music present Elias String Quartet
Saturday 29 May, 3pm & 6pm
John Innes Centre
Pay What You Want

City of Literature Programme -
experiments and experiences in literature – brought to you by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and National Centre for Writing:
City of Literature: Tombland
Saturday 22 May, 11am,
Free, register in advance to receive a link to the website when it launches

City of Literature: Weather With You
Monday 24–Thursday 27 May
Digital
Free, register in advance to receive links to all content as it is release

City of Literature: Looking, Large and Small
Friday 28 May, 1pm
Digital
Free, register in advance for access to the resources when they go live

City of Literature: The Group
Friday 28–Sunday 30 May, 9pm
Digital
Free, register in advance to receive instructions
Suitable for ages 16+. Contains adult themes, including escaping a situation of threat.

City of Literature: Page Against the Machine
Saturday 29 May, 1pm
Plantation Garden, Norwich
Free (£2 donation to the Plantation Garden on the door)

City of Literature: Harriet Martineau Lecture
Sunday 30 May, 7pm
Digital
Free, register in advance to receive a link Supported by The Martineau Society

Future and Form Programme - a series of incredible events from University of East Anglia, as they celebrate 50 years of the world-renowned creative writing programme.
Future and Form: Imogen Hermes Gower and Mutiny
Eleanor
Friday 21–Sunday 30 May
Starts at Norwich Castle
Free Norfolk Museums Service, Norfolk County Council, and UEA

Future and Form: James McDermott and Guildhall Live Events
Senseless
Friday 21–Sunday 30 May, various times
Digital
Free, but you must pre-book some events Norwich Theatre and UEA

Future and Form: Mona Arshi and Mutiny
Shifting Lines
Friday 21–Sunday 30 May, various times
Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley and Salthouse Marshes
Free, but you must pre-book

Future and Form: Mitch Johnson and Guildhall Live Events
The Living Book
Friday 21–Sunday 30 May
Digital
Free presented by The Forum Trust and UEA

Future and Form: Tash Aw and Guildhall Live Events
Where Do Stories Come From?
Workshops–Saturday 22, Tuesday 25 & Thursday 27 May, various times
Free, workshops must be pre-booked

Future and Form: Ayobámi Adébáyo and Mutiny
Provenance
Friday 21–Sunday 30 May, various times
National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall
Free, but you must pre-book

Visual Arts Programme
Japan Water
Wednesday 14 April– Saturday 31 July
GroundWork Gallery, King’s Lynn
Free
Presented by GroundWork Gallery

The Purity of Water Friday 21 May, 2pm
Digital : Free, to book email [email protected]
Presented by GroundWork Gallery

A Passion for Landscape: Rediscovering John Crome
Monday 17 May–Sunday 5 Sep Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Admission to Norwich Castle is by pre-booked tickets only museums.norfolk.gov.uk 
​Presented by Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Somewhere Unexpected
Norwich Castle Open Art Show
Monday 17 May–Sunday 12 Sep
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Admission to Norwich Castle is by pre-booked tickets only museums.norfolk.gov.uk Presented by Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Grayson Perry
The Vanity of Small Differences
Tuesday 18 May– Saturday 3 July
East Gallery, Norwich University of the Arts
Free
Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London and British Council. Gift of the artist and Victoria Miro Gallery with the support of Channel 4 Television, the Art Fund and Sfumato Foundation with additional support from Alix Partners.

Katie Spragg
Plants, Porcelain, People
Monday 17–Sunday 30 May, 10am–4pm
St Peter Hungate Church
Free, but tickets must be pre-booked Presented by Caroline Fisher Projects

Tony Cragg at Houghton Hall
Wednesday 19 May–26 Sep
Houghton Hall, Norfolk
Tickets available from Houghton Hall
Presented by Houghton Hall

Cristina Iglesias
Throughout the Festival
Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park
Free Presented by Sainsbury Centre

Cristina Iglesias
From 14 November in the Sculpture Park at UEA, Norwich

Internationally acclaimed Spanish installation artist and sculptor, Cristina Iglesias (b. November 1956), presents two major sculptures at the Sainsbury Centre, UEA. This free Sculpture Park exhibition places Iglesias’ work in dialogue with Norman Foster’s iconic Sainsbury Centre building.
Celosía XI (Hafsa Bint Al-Hayy) (2006) consists of seven terracotta screens that evoke the lattices in Arab architecture. Iglesias co-opts their traditional geometric patterns by incorporating words into the structure of the screens. Passing through the enclosures is akin to reading passages of text. The title refers to the celebrated Andalusian poet Ḥafṣa bint al-Ḥājj ar-Rakūniyya (1135–1191).
The immersive installation Vegetation Room III (2005) is a defined architectural space. The interior walls are casts of organic vegetation. The combination of natural and architectural elements complements the aims of the Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park: to bring together art, architecture and the natural environment.

This exhibition reunites the work of Cristina Iglesias and Norman Foster, who have collaborated on a number of projects. Iglesias’ sculpture can be seen in front of the Bloomberg Headquarters, London, which was designed by Norman Foster. She has also created a canopy for the façade of the Norman Foster Foundation in Madrid.
Both works are free to view on the West Lawn as part of the Sculpture Park. A trail map is available here.

In collaboration with Marian Goodman Gallery and Cristina Iglesias Studio.

Exhibition Information
Cristina Iglesias
From 14 November
FREE to visit in our Sculpture Park
Visit sainsburycentre.ac.uk or call 01603 593199 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)

About Cristina Iglesias
Cristina Iglesias draws on poetry, literature and architectural theory to create immersive and experiential environments. Important site-specific public art projects include the doors of the extension to the Prado Museum, Madrid and Deep Fountain at the Leopold de Wael Platz, Antwerp. Her recent solo exhibitions include Centro Botín, Spain (2018), Musée de Grenoble, France (2016), BOZAR, Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium (2014) and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Spain (2013). She was awarded Spain’s National Visual Arts Award in 1999 and London’s Royal Academy Architecture Prize in 2020. Iglesias studied sculpture at the Chelsea College of Art, London and lives and works in Madrid.


About the Sainsbury Centre
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is one of the most important public university art galleries in Britain. It was founded in 1973 at the University of East Anglia (UEA) with the support of one of the nation’s great philanthropic families, Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury, who donated their extraordinary art collection which includes works dating from prehistory to the late 20th century from across the globe. A radical new building by Norman Foster was designed to house the collection and was his first public work.
 
The Sainsbury Centre holds one of the most impressive art collections outside of the national institutions. It includes a significant number of works by modern masters of European art such as Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Jacob Epstein, Jean Arp, Chaïm Soutine and Amedeo Modigliani. There are major holdings from Oceania, Africa, the Americas, Asia, the ancient Mediterranean cultures of Egypt, Greece and Rome, as well as Medieval Europe. Alongside these permanent collections, it hosts a range of exhibitions in the largest suite of temporary exhibitions galleries in Eastern England.  sainsburycentre.ac.uk
 
About Marian Goodman Gallery
For over forty years, Marian Goodman Gallery has played an important role in introducing European artists to American audiences and helping to establish a vital dialogue among artists and institutions working internationally. Marian Goodman Gallery was founded in New York City in late 1977. In 1995 the gallery expanded to include an exhibition space in Paris and in 2014 an exhibition space in London. In late 2016 she realised her dream of opening a bookstore and project space in Paris.  mariangoodman.com

​A FINE BALANCE
AN EXHIBITION OF ART AND HANDMADE OBJECTS BY FORTY ARTISTS AND MAKERS FROM EAST ANGLIA AT THE STABLES, HOUGHTON HALL, NORFOLK
12 JULY – 1 NOVEMBER 2020
 
A Fine Balance will be the fourth pop-up exhibition of art and handmade objects by artists and makers from East Anglia held in The Stables at Houghton Hall and curated  by Paul Vater and Paul Barratt of Country and Contemporary. The exhibition will feature recent work by more than 40 artists and makers who explore narratives that reference our landscape, the creatures that share it, natural materials and processes, and how mankind’s activities affect and influence it. The fine balance these artists seek is often a moment, or a tipping point that brings attention to an aspect of our surroundings that has been overlooked or undervalued.
 
The situation we now find ourselves in collectively, as the Covid-19 epidemic runs its devastating course means that our relationship with ‘the great outdoors’ has probably changed forever. The artists and makers we have included in the exhibition are ahead of the curve, creating memorable images that will chime with the public, post lockdown. During the last four months we have all had to become aware of our vulnerability to forces we mistakenly assumed we had mastered. We respond viscerally to a favourite view or landscape, much as we would if our home or family were under threat. The exhibition holds up a mirror to what we perceive, or have hidden, in the complex confluence between the sustainable and natural, the artificial and man-made.
 
Some of the artists and makers have chosen to look at a highly maintained version of the countryside and our place within it. Others employ sustainable materials to create pleasing pieces intended to be handled and used every day. Others look into the natural phenomena and practical activities that are frequently personal to us in terms of our physical impact on the planet whether through recycling and re-assigning waste to new purposes. While others explore areas that are not quite urban or rural, but like much of modern Britain, somewhere in-between.
 
The exhibition is open from Sunday 12 July to 1 November, to coincide with the same opening times as the Anish Kapoor sculpture exhibition held throughout the gardens and park at Houghton Hall. Check the Houghton Hall website to see opening times and to book tickets for entry onto the estate. https://www.houghtonhall.com/book-tickets/

Makers are: ARTISTS
Zarya Austin-Fell
Debby Besford
Lorraine Bewick
Katarzyna Coleman
Polly Cruse
Ferenc Cseh
Will Cutts
Amanda Edgcombe
Judith Ellis
Kate Giles
Gareth Hacon
Ruth Howes
Linda Jamieson
Suzi Joel
Liz McGowan
Pandora Mond
Verity Newman
Natalie Odile Lang
Maria Pavledis
Tracey Ross
Colin Self
Tim Simmons
Liz Taunt
Molly Thomson
Maryrose Watson
Paul Wolterink
Peter Wylie
 
SCULPTORS
Keron Beattie
Jonathan Clarke
Roger Hardy
Bridget Heriz
Andrew Jones
Rachael Long
Dan Meek
Ben Pusey
Telfer Stokes
 
HOMEWARE
Carolyn Brookes-Davies
Heather Connor
Steve Gore Rowe
Laura Huston
Suzi Joel
Blott Kerr-Wilson
Sue Kirk
Tim Plunkett
Amanda Sutton
Toby Winteringham
Full artist profiles are available on https://contemporaryandcountry.com/
​
DATES AND OPENING TIMES
Check the Houghton Hall website for opening times and to book tickets for entry to the estate. Social distancing in compliance with UK government guidelines are expected to be observed by visitors, please make yourself aware of what these are before your visit. If you are travelling by car follow the brown signs off the A148 Fakenham to King’s Lynn Road PE31 6EY.
https://www.houghtonhall.com/art-and-exhibitions/anish-kapoor-at-houghton-hall/
 
The venue has been provided by kind permission of the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Houghton Hall is one of Norfolk’s finest houses, it encourages recreation and relaxation throughout the grounds and has created suitable spaces for displaying large-scale installations by leading contemporary artists within a formal garden setting as well as the park. Our exhibition will be held in the Stables at Houghton Hall to coincide with a solo exhibition by the renowned sculptor Anish Kapoor.
 
For more details of previous exhibitions please go to https://contemporaryandcountry.com/

MORE ABOUT CONTEMPORARY & COUNTRY
Contemporary and Country (C&C) present contemporary art and the handmade by established artists and makers based in the East of England in pop-up exhibitions at non-gallery spaces that celebrate our rural surroundings. The artists and makers we display live and work in rural locations, or include the natural world in their subject matter or production process. Together they bring about a closer understanding of the countryside, its people and landscape. They look creatively beyond the passing trend and encourage greater consideration for nature, as its appreciation and preservation becomes ever more prescient to our time.
 
 
MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Paul Vater or Paul Barratt on 07943 291834
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER https://twitter.com/cc_art_handmade
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/contemporary_and_country/
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/contemporaryandcountry/


An interesting fact: The exhibition title comes from Rohinton Mistry’s novel A Fine Balance, published in 1996. The book was set in 1975 and traces the lives of four main characters whose interconnected lives are heavily impacted by their circumstances in a fictional Indian city, as they slip between a succession of karmic banana skins during the course of the narrative. Mistry’s powerful story exposes familiar fault lines within the values of a society where the characters lives are in jeopardy, brought about by familial conventions, institutional injustice and political expedience.

A one-way art exhibition is set to give audiences a socially distanced dose of culture when it opens in Norwich. The ‘Belated Spring Art Show’ will feature the work of more than 35 artists at a pop-up exhibition in Pivotal House based in the heart of the city. The building is known to many as the old Looses building in Orford Yard,  just off Red Lion Street, Norwich, NR1 3TB

The Spring Art Show was originally due to take place at The Forum in April but was cancelled as lockdown came into force. Now organisers have creatively reimagined the space at Pivotal House into a unique one-way art experience. With lockdown forcing the closure of many galleries, museums and other cultural locations organiser and artist Brian Korteling hopes the event will give audiences and artists the dose of culture they’ve been missing.

Brian Korteling said: “We are really excited as artists to finally have the opportunity to show our work again and, after months of lockdown, most of us have new and exciting work to show. “We are still very aware of the threat posed by Covid-19 and want to do what we can to mitigate any risk to visitors so have put various measures in place. The layout of the exhibition is designed around a one-way system making social distancing much easier to manage. There will also be hand sanitisers at the entrance and exit as well as signage to remind people to be cautious and considerate to other visitors. We look forward to welcoming audiences to the exhibition at this unique and iconic city venue.”

The show will feature a selection of paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and assemblages by both professional and amateur artists. All art works will be for sale and there will be a selection of cards and prints available to buy.

​Mr Korteling has lived in Norfolk for most of his life and has been a full-time artist since 2009 after a career in graphic design. Each autumn he hosts Art Fair East will fellow Norwich artist Will Teather. Working mostly with oil paint, Mr Korteling has recently started to explore ideas in 3D with pieces shown in Cley Contemporary 2016 and 2017 and the Waveney Valley Sculpture Trail in 2016, where he won the Judges prize for Waveney Glitch. He has also won prizes in the Norwich Paint Out plein air competition.

The exhibition will be open from Saturday 11th July until Saturday 25th July (closed Mondays) from 10am to 5pm. For more information please visit www.springartshow.co.uk 

About Brian Korteling
Brian left a career in graphic design to become a freelance artist in May 2009. Since then he has experimented with many painting styles, themes and techniques. He enjoys exploring materials and primarily paints on wood, MDF, hessian, and more recently, aluminium. When Brian returned to painting in 2009 his main subject matter was trees, especially the bare branches of winter and the vivid palette of autumn. Since then he has expanded his practice and experimented with various styles and ideas with the most recent being inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi where bowls are broken and mended using gold to fill the gaps. These new pieces will be on show at this year’s Spring Art Show. More recently he has returned to studying the landscape, painting en plein air and in the studio.

​Photos supplied: Brian Korteling outside Pivotal House in Norwich. Credit: Brian Korteling Summer Sung by Brian Korteling. Credit: Brian Korteling Flock by Brian Korteling. Credit: Brian Korteling A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (after Manet) by Will Teather. Credit Will Teather Northsea Seascape 2 by David Hall. Credit: David Hall ​