Unique opportunity to see artists at work

North Wales has entered its second decade of inviting visitors into artists’ studios to experience the creative process first hand. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Saturday, March12th, Oriel Ynys Môn, in partnership with the Anglesey Arts Forum and Helfa Gelf, will be launching the second ‘North Wales Open Studios Network’ Exhibition within its Main Art Gallery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the last 13 years the Anglesey Arts Forum and Helfa Gelf have been instrumental in creating public awareness about the arts in North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The North Wales Open Studio Event has transformed the relationship between artists and the public by giving people a unique opportunity to visit artists behind the scenes in their studios. All across North Wales there is an abundance of talented artists and craftworkers; many are hidden away from the public steadfastly working in isolation up remote mountain tracks or down hidden country lanes. Over the years, the Anglesey Arts Forum and Helfa Gel have been successful in breaking down the barriers and opening up this mysterious hidden world for all to see, and to truly experience what it’s like to be a working artist today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exhibition in Oriel Ynys Môn is a unique opportunity for you to see a large selection of work from both the Anglesey Arts Forum and Helfa Gelf artists all under one roof. The works have been selected by guest curator Jonathan Le Vay, and will give visitors a small taster of the exceptional range of creativity which you will find on this year’s open studios trail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Oriel Ynys Môn Operational Manager, Hayden Burns, explained, “We are delighted to be once again hosting the North Wales Open Studios Network Exhibition, the variety of work on show, from sculpture, painting, photography, film to installation, acknowledges and celebrates the great creative talent that we have in North Wales, we hope this exhibition will leave our visitors wanting more and encourage them to venture further into the artist’s studios” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Anglesey Arts Forum Open Studio’s event takes place from March 19th to April 3rd, 2016: www.angleseyartsforum.org, and you can join Helfa Gelf Open Studios every weekend in September 2016. The event includes residencies and exhibitions across north Wales: www.helfagelf.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​