BIG ART SHOW 2024 LAUNCHES!

One of Scotland’s largest open entry exhibitions, Paisley’s annual Big Art Show, returns for a third edition from Friday 30th August – Saturday 16^th November 2024.  This year there were 2,108 entries, the Selection Process was supported by the Directors of Art Paisley Ltd – Rowena Comrie, Eòghann MacColl and Maureen Rocksmoore – and the show will feature just over 1,600 artworks by 586 artists. This year’s submissions include artworks in all mediums with an increase in entries for drawing, textiles and prints for this year – reflecting current trends.  Most of the works selected are paintings; the show also features mixed media, photography and prints; ceramics, film and digital, installation, metalwork and textiles.     

Launched in 2022, the first edition of the Big Art Show featured nearly 1,000 artworks from all over the UK, as well as artwork from Europe and Asia. In 2023, there were 1,712 entries and £42,500 worth of artworks were sold. 

For the 2024 show, we are also delighted to announce a larger programme of Featured Artists including Ann Vance, Ashley Cook, Caroline Gormley, Justine Lynch, Paul Marshall, Mark Mulholland and Erinclare Scrutton.  Two leading Paisley artists – Ann and Caroline; Glasgow School of Art graduates, Erinclare and Ashley; Edinburgh College of Art graduate, Mark Mulholland, runner up in 2023’s Scottish Portrait Artist of the Year; and two emerging artists from our workshop programme – Justine and Paul. These artists will show up to 12 artworks each and this will form a core part of this year’s show. The show will open on 30^th August, 5pm with a launch party and prize giving, featuring a jazz band to entertain attendees.

Commenting on the strength of this year’s Big Art Show, principal selectors, Rowena Comrie and Eòghann MacColl, said: 

“Continuing to be a part of the Big Art Show, selecting artworks from over 2000 entries, reveals a fascinating diversity of creative skills and imaginative images. This unique exhibition will once again offer valuable exposure for artists from far afield and nearby.” Rowena Comrie, Co-Chair, Art Paisley Ltd.  

“Being part of the movement and participating is such a valued part of the Big Art Show. This can be tricky given the numbers of submissions and the amount of work we see submitted. We hope you enjoy the exhibition and see the varied and wide backgrounds the artists are coming from. The future plans are exciting, and these are built on a solid foundation of hard work and dedication towards giving everyone a place to feel included and free to express themselves all set in the heart of Paisley from where it radiates across Scotland and beyond!” Eòghann MacColl, Co-Chair, Art Paisley Ltd.

Steven Thomson, Creative Director, Big Art Show, commented: “We can’t quite believe we’re in our third year of the show – it’s gained so much momentum and truly established itself as a landmark event for Paisley’s cultural calendar. The reward of the Big Art Show is that almost 75% of submissions are chosen, unlike some other similar shows in the UK.  The show is inclusive and representative, and we’re invested in providing not only an important health and wellbeing focus for the local community, but also a celebration of freedom of expression which is so important in these turbulent times.”

Running alongside the Big Art Show, The Art Department will offer a 3-month long creative learning workshop programme. Over the past 3 years these workshops have helped participants take part in making art and each participant has benefited from the experience.  The workshops will be led by established artists Ann Vance, Eòghann MacColl, Iona Kewney, Karen Hanvidge, Lilja Husmo, Lucy Jane Dorrian and Marion Gardyne. The workshops are all free of charge and cover painting and drawing, mixed media, textiles, glass and ceramics. They are available to book through Eventbrite – https://outspokenarts.eventbrite.com

For the Big Art Show organisers have secured £3k in prizes for this year’s edition, which will be awarded at the launch party on Friday 30^th August.  Prizes for this year are as follows:

1. The Art Paisley Prize – top prize for best in show £500
2. Future Paisley Prize for a local artist of merit £400
3. Independent Financial Advice Centre (Glasgow) Limited Prize £300 
4. Clutha Trust Prize for an emerging artist – £250
5. One Ren Health and Wellbeing Prizes – £150
6. One Ren Health and Wellbeing Prizes – two runners-up prizes – £50 
7. Society of Scottish Artists Prize – £200 plus one year’s free membership of SSA
8. The Hazlitt Apartments Prize – £200
9. Made in Paisley Prize – £200
10. Cass Art Prize – £150 
11. The Carolyn Kyle-Chittick Pretty in Pink Prize £150
12. Outspoken Arts Scotland Prize for Digital work – £100
13. Duais a’ mhòir (The Big Dog Prize) for an artist under 25 – £100
14. The Sadie Sheppard Memorial Prize for landscape £100
15. The Mill Magazine Prize – £100

Outspoken Arts are pleased to announce support for its year-round work from Bank of Scotland Foundation, Paisley First, William Syson Foundation and Hugh Fraser Foundation. Outspoken Arts Scotland is supported by Creative Scotland, Renfrewshire Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and Renfrewshire Council as part of Future Paisley’s programme – putting culture at the heart of Paisley and Renfrewshire’s regeneration and harnessing the power of culture to support people’s lives for the better.

Listings Info: 

Opening Hours:  10am – 4pm Tuesday to Saturday (closed on Sundays and Mondays)

Entry: Free

Venue:  The Art Department, 1-10 Causeyside Street, PAISLEY, PA1 1UQ

More Info: Big Art Show – OUTSPOKEN ARTS SCOTLAND