A summer of pop-up events in Carlisle’s Historic Quarter will kick off next week with an art exhibition showcasing the work of 50 local artists.
The show – named Inspire due its proximity to the cathedral – will take place in the pop-up space run by Carlisle PR firm Intro in their Paternoster Row offices from April 30 to May 8.
Cumbrian artists such as Alan Stones, Derek Eland, Rachel Gibson, and Alison Critchlow are among those who will be displaying their work – as well as other artists who have never shared their art at an exhibition.
It will include a wide variety of artwork in an array of different styles, from surrealism to photography, that will be available to buy.
Daniel Ibbotson, organiser of the exhibition, said: “There will be landscape, abstract, surrealism, portrait, photography, and everything in between.
“I’ve asked all the artists to bring new art, if possible, so I think everybody will be raring to show what they have been up to in lockdown.
“The hunger for it is pretty big.”
COVID-19 took away many opportunities for artists to show their work in public, so the Proseed umbrella of exhibitions aims to revive the local arts scene by giving them a platform to share their work.
This exhibition will be the first Proseed event of the year following two other exhibitions last year – Proseed and Presence.
The first pop-up shop to be held in the Paternoster Row based offices last year gave shoppers the opportunity to purchase plants, gin, and vintage furniture from a number of local businesses.
The Inspire exhibition may be the first pop-up to take place in Intro’s offices since the current lockdown restrictions began to ease but it will not be the last.
The space, which has a bird’s eye view of Carlisle Cathedral, has bookings for more exhibitions in the coming months.
Nick Turner, director of Intro, said: “We’ve got some exciting events coming up in May and June to showcase Cumbria’s amazing artists. Now that the lockdown is easing the Historic Quarter seems to be springing into life with great places to eat and drink outdoors at the Fratry, Tullie House and the Cakes & Ale garden.
“We’re delighted to have a string of exhibitions to take us into the summer, but we’ve been talking to some retailers too about how they can use the space.”
Inspire will be open at 7 Paternoster Row between 10am-6pm every day apart from Sunday, May 2 when it will be open between 11am-4pm.
