Open art exhibition draws on Tameside's talent

Tameside’s artistic talent took centre stage this morning when the 2023 Open Art Exhibition was officially opened.

The exhibition begins a three-month run at the Astley Cheetham Gallery in Stalybridge.

The annual event was opened by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Tafheen Sharif, and is one of the longest-running exhibitions of its kind in the country. It is special in that any of the borough’s residents can submit work and have it shown in a professional gallery setting.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH: Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Tafheen Sharif opened the exhibition, accompanied by local councillors Leanne Feeley, Sangita Patel, Adrian Pearce and Christine Beardmore.

There are more than 90 works on show including paintings, photography, collage, embroidery, ceramics, woodwork and scultpture. This year, for the first time, contributors have been invited to give some information about their art and why they created it.

Cllr Sangita Patel, Tameside Council’s executive member for culture and heritage, said: “The beauty of the open art exhibition is that it’s so democratic. It’s open to everyone, giving all our residents the chance to see their work properly displayed in a gallery.

“There’s an extraordinary amount of talent in Tameside and the submitted art is thought-provoking, impressive and of a very high standard.”

The Astley Cheetham Art Gallery is on Trinity Street, Stalybridge, above the library. Its opening hours are: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9am to 1pm; Wednesdays, 1 to 5pm; Saturdays, 10am to 3pm.