ShopArt! - aiding retail sector through local art.

Government-funded project aims to breathe new life into struggling city shopping sector.

Wednesday 4th August 2010

For a long time now, Norwich has been nationally recognised as a top shopping environment, and perfectly suited for those in need of a little retail therapy. With a vibrant assortment of independent retailers, coffee-shops and eateries, alongside a healthy array of larger boutiques and department stores, the city caters for customers travelling from far and wide.

Yet the recession has hit hard. Across town, numerous small shops and independent retail premises now lie empty. In an England where whole city centres stand barren and neglected, not even Norwich can withstand the impact of the economic downturn without aid and assistance.

Whilst many regeneration plans have been brought to the various tables of government and local councils over recent months, one of the more interesting initiatives proposed in our area is the ShopArt! Competition scheme, currently under assessment.

The idea aims to inject new life into the struggling world of Norwich shopping, by displaying the work of winning local artists in shop windows. Funded by a £44,000 government grant, the project is geared towards presenting a culturally positive image of retail in the city.

As well as helping to engineer a new and refreshing attitude towards the city, the ShopArt! project will also shoehorn the work of local artists into the direct view of the general public.

Marion Catlin, the Cultural Development Officer for Norwich City Council, can see the benefits:

"Our artists always have good ideas for creative uses for empty buildings, but rarely have the chance to put them into practice. This project will help artists and their work to take centre stage and reinforce the city's reputation as an ongoing city of culture."

The Project Co-ordinator, Grace Jackson, called this week for submissions from every corner of the local art world. Entries in a 'ready-to-hang' state will be readily accepted for review.

“We are looking for submissions in every style and discipline of art, including painting, photography, animation, poetry and literaure, installations, sculpture, animation and other moving image forms,” Mz. Jackson said.

“The only limitations really are the imaginations of the artists and the practicality of staging the work in a shop window.”

At least ten shop windows will filled by the winning entries. One such window will be specially reserved for the work of at least one young artist and contributions from Chapel Break Primary Schools' TARDIS project. With this in mind, half-term workshops, held in October and aimed at young people, will take place at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

To help get the project off the ground, the team at ShopArt! are looking for any further suitable premises to use for their displays.

Mz. Jackson:

“I've been really pleased with the reaction of the shop owners and estate agents that we have contacted to take part in the project, but we still want to hear from any others who have an empty city centre shop and would like to host some art”.

Details:

Submissions are open until the 27th August 2010.

The display begins on the 8th October, and will run for 6-8weeks.

£250 will be awarded to the ten winning entries, to help with costs.

To submit work for the competition, complete an entry form. These are available form Norwich Arts Centre. Alternatively, contact Grace Jackson at grace@norwichartscentre.co.uk. Businesses interested in displaying work should also follow this route.

ShopArt! website: shopartnorwich.co.uk