Ayrshire annual art showcase returns to the HAC this week
Posted on 6 Sep 2024
A new exhibition supported by North Ayrshire Council’s Arts and Culture Team has been unveiled at the Harbour Arts Centre.
An annual celebration of the artistic talent on our doorstep, the Ayrshire Open Studios exhibition is a collaborative display of creative works from artists and makers from Open Studios Ayrshire.
Now in its 13th year, the exhibition preview night was well-attended on Thursday, 5 September, when visitors had the chance to meet with the artists whose work is on show.
The exhibition will now run during HAC standard opening times (Wednesday to Saturday 9.30am until 5pm) between Friday 6 September until Saturday 19 October.
Members working across a range of creative disciplines, the Ayrshire Open Studios collective was first founded in 2012.
Now with 58 members, the works on display at the HAC cover a wide selection of mediums from paintings to pewter craft, cyanotype prints, sculpture, silver jewellery and glass art, printing, drawings and more…
Organiser and Open Studios artist Petra Ronnegard-Hewitt shares: “There is so much talent in Ayrshire and we at the OSA are delighted to be able to exhibit for the 13th year at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine. We hope that when you look at our paintings, they evoke a sense of your own happy place within you.”
Rhonda Leith, Head of Connected Communities is encouraging everyone to come along to support the local artists. She shares: “The Harbour Arts Centre is proud to host the 2024 exhibition for the Ayrshire artists and makers of Open Studios Ayrshire.
“Delivered in partnership with our Arts and Culture team, the exhibition is a fantastic mood-booster with something for everyone to discover.
“The location is also accessible and family-friendly with parking nearby and adjacent toilets and café. Come along to be inspired and appreciate the artistic talent making their mark here in North Ayrshire.”
A total of 43 artists from Open Studios Ayrshire will also be participating in the open doors weekend across the 3 shires.
Fellow OSA member and rising visual artist Euan Tait adds: “I am very much looking forward to the HAC exhibition as it will showcase an array of the amazing talent we have from artists and makers from emerging and established backgrounds around Ayrshire. We are all really excited to display our latest works.
“The annual exhibition this year will also coincide with the Open Studios Ayrshire Trail (13-15 September) where we will be showcasing works across the three Ayrshire’s. The HAC will be taking part in the trail with four additional artists demoing and exhibiting their work.”
Next weekend, visitors to the HAC will have the chance to meet: Delyth Reid – with paintings inspired by nature; Karina Oakes, creator of animal studies and pop culture collage; Jenny Brown – award-winning seascape artist who will create a live art piece and Susan Montgomerie – Silversmith and graduate of Glasgow School of Art.
For sneak peek pictures from the event and further updates, stay tuned to the Harbour Arts Centre on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarbourArtsCentre and X: https://x.com/HACIrvine
See www.openstudiosayrshire.com for the full list of studio venues and participating artists.