How it works
STEP 1.
BEFORE THE DAY
Buy an online ticket at Ticketsource.
STEP 2.
STEP 3.
STEP 4.
STEP 5.
8 - 9.30am
Arrive at the registration venue to get your support (paper/canvas/etc) stamped.
8am - 3pm
After you've registered spend the day creating your artwork.
3pm
Bring your finished masterpiece to Malvern Theatres no later than 3pm
(artwork delivered late will no longer be eligible for judging).
Chill out whilst the judges deliberate.
4.30pm
Prize giving in Malvern Theatres.
4.30 - 5.30pm
Artists exhibition at Malvern Theatres until 5.30pm
ARTISTS: On the day
We are looking forwards to seeing you next week for the first en plein air event in Malvern!
Malvern Theatres (which is sited in Priory Park) are now also joining us as sponsors of the event and will be hosting our final judging and pop-up exhibition sale. This means that whatever the British weather gives us on Monday, we can be assured of a dry ‘finale’ to the day.
Before 3pm, please follow the signs in the park and enter the theatre via the rear steps and doors. Stewards will be on hand to help you both inside and out.
Parking
Parking for the event is via car parks or the free street parking in Malvern.
NB. There is NO PARKING AVAILABLE at the registration venue (Mount Pleasant Hotel)
Registration
8-9.30am
Please come to The Dame Laura Knight Suite at
MOUNT PLEASANT HOTEL
50 Belle View Terrace,
Great Malvern WR14 4PZ
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Registration takes place in The Dame Laura Knight Suite and the room that she painted in as a resident. ACCESS is from the carpark level - follow the signs from the carpark.
NB there is no parking for artists at this small hotel.
1. Show your ticket
On your phone or printed is fine.
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2. Get your numbered event ticket.
3. Get your ribbon.
YOU WILL BE GIVEN A NUMBER on a ROSETTE to help the judges.
Show proof of WR postcode address (if applicable) for YELLOW ribbon.
Other entrants will be given a RED ribbon which must be tied to their easel at the afternoon pop up exhibition and judging.
Local entries MUST SHOW proof of address at registration.​
4. Complete your contact details slip
To include any of the following:
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event ticket number
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name
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email
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Instagram
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telephone number*
Then sign in to confirm you have read all the details and the T&C’s on the website, especially the photograph permissions section as we will have a photographer with us on the day.
(* we might need to contact you at short notice)
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5. Get your support stamped.
You may stamp more than one BUT only one entry per purchased ticket in the final.
All supports (canvas/boards/paper) MUST be stamped prior to starting artwork by the organisers.
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6. Get painting!
Enjoy our pretty townscapes or landscapes until early afternoon…
ALL ARTWORK MUST BE FRESHLY PRODUCED ON THE DAY
You may mark more than one support but may only submit one entry for judging per ticket.
7. Stop painting
Get your artwork the final location by 3pm at MALVERN THEATRES Priory Park WR14 3HB
It will be clearly signposted with stewards to help you. Please enter via the large rear theatre steps.
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NO ART ACCEPTED AFTER 3PM
Hang your numbered entry ticket on your work with your red or yellow ribbon and a price if it is for sale. Please display this as you paint AND ESPECIALLY ON YOUR EASEL at the judging and pop up exhibition.
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YOU WILL BE GIVEN SOME A5 flyers to hand out to interested people during your painting time. This will encourage members of the public to come along to the judging and will help drive sales of works.
The competition coincides with other events happening in Malvern on the day (Well Dressing, Farmers market, Water Festival) so footfall to the town should be good and the potential to sell your piece at its maximum.
Best of luck to all artists!
REGISTRATION TIMES - AM
8-9.30am REGISTRATION
9.30am registration closes
SUBMIT & JUDGING TIMES - PM
3pm CUT OFF for paintings to arrive at Malvern Theatres
3.30-4.30pm Judging
EXHIBITION TIMES - PM
4.30-5.30pm Pop up exhibition
5.30pm Event ends
WHERE MAY I PAINT?
Artists to work en plein air and produce their artwork in response to 'the spirit of Malvern'. Artists may work anywhere in Great Malvern itself, or the surrounding area or hills.
In the event of poor weather the competition will still go ahead so please plan accordingly. Artists must come prepared for the conditions on the day either heat, cold or rain and no refunds will be given after tickets are purchased. Malvern has a variety of sheltered areas where it should be possible to paint.
In the extremely unlikely event that the event has to be cancelled the organisers cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred by participants so personal insurance is recommended.
INSURANCE
We accept no liability of loss injury or damage during the day.
The event takes place in public areas and as such participating artists may wish to obtain to PPL if they do not have it already. (from a-n Artists etc)
TOILETS
Public toilets are to be found next to Malvern Theatre’s (which is also next to Priory Park the end location) on Edith Walk in town, at St Ann’s Well on the hill, the Wyche Cutting carpark and Barnard’s Green.
The Mount Pleasant hotel will have toilets during registration in the morning plus tea and coffee.
Publicity
All participants agree that photographs of themselves ‘in action’ or their artwork may be used to mutually promote the event either on social media or traditional media. Both during the event this year and in following events in the future.
When buying a ticket participants are agreeing to this condition.
Artists can assist us to mutually publicise this event using these tags:
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#spirtitofmalvern24
@creatives_connect_malvern
@visitthemalverns
@whatsonworcs
#malvernworcestershire
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On the day
ALL ARTWORK MUST BE FRESHLY PRODUCED ON THE DAY
All supports to be marked at registration.
You may mark more than one support but may only submit one entry for judging per ticket.
You can buy more than one entry.
END OF THE PAINTING TIME IS up to you but artwork must be at Priory Park by 3PM
JUDGING (Prizes at 4.30pm)
POP UP EXHIBITION 4.30-5.30pm
Malvern Theatres will be the location of the judging area see map below.
Grange Rd, Great Malvern, Malvern WR14 3HB
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Signs and stewards will help guide you to the correct location too.
For an hour after judging a pop up exhibition will remain in place.
PLEASE leave your paintings in this area during this time.
Any sales made will be the sole responsibility of the artist and their buyer.
CCM will take no commission on any sales made.
(#WIP artwork may also be sold during the day but must be done so on the understanding it will still be bought for judging and the pop up show, before being collected/delivered to the buyer by the artist)
CCM cannot help with or take responsibility for any transactions.
LOCAL ENTRIES
If you live in a postcode area listed here you may enter the local artist’s prize category.
YOU MUST BRING evidence of your address to registration eg photo ID driving licence, utility bill or similar please. You will be given a ribbon to display fastened to your easel in the judging area later on.
POP UP EXHIBITION
4.30-5.30pm where prize winners are announced and entries shown to the public. Artwork may be sold by artists. No commission is taken.
We thank you in advance for your support
PRIZES
Artists to respond individually to the 'the spirit of Malvern' even if it is your very first visit and impression of the area.
First Prize £1000
‘The Spirt of Malvern’ prize sponsored by Three Counties Art History Group.
The Malvern Hills prize £450
This prize is only for local postcode qualification.
Supported by ‘The Dame Laura Knight Society’.
Second prize £350
‘The Spirit of Malvern’
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The Urban Artwork Prize £100
The Landscape Prize £100
The WILDCARD prize £100
to be awarded at the judges discretion
'Highly commended' awards may also be made at the judges discretion.
Who can enter
Open to all adult 2D artists in a physical medium (eg paint, drawing, mixed media) but sorry no digital or photographic entries.
Any sizes are permitted BUT each artist is responsible for displaying their work safely on their own easels for judging and the pop up exhibition.
The Malvern Hills prize
is supported by ‘The Dame Laura Knight Society’ and is for permanently resident artist entries in these postcode areas only:
Creatives Connect Malvern organising members OF THIS EVENT are not eligible to compete but may participate for fun on the day if they so wish.
Why are we running an
open air painting event?
Malvern's 'I Paint Today' - En Plein Air Competition
Dame Laura Knight - I Paint Today.
Saturday 13 January - Sunday 30 June 2024, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970); one of the most significant and prolific painters of the 20th century and the first fully elected female member of the Royal Academy. She was a great celebrity in her time, frequently visitor and painter of Malvern and en plein air artist. In 2024 she is to be celebrated in a retrospective exhibition ‘Dame Laura Knight - I Paint Today’ at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum; a significant event for Worcestershire but for logistical reasons this exhibition is unable to take place in Dame Laura’s beloved Malvern.
How can Malvern mark this national but local event too?
Malvern plans to mark Dame Laura Knight’s retrospective exhibition and her many painting visits here by holding an en plein air painting competition event for both national and local artists. It is an opportunity for Malvern to attract national en plein air artists to the town and hills, to experience what Dame Laura Knight enjoyed, and rediscover Malvern’s artistic history.
Malvern is a great location as a contemporary arts destination for artists to visit, as well as inspiration for our own resident artist community.
