A new contemporary art festival due to launch this autumn in the UK throws the spotlight on established and emerging artists from the north of England. The initiative, entitled North (2-31 October), will present works by both regional and international artists across the town of Warrington in Cheshire, in venues as varied as ex-retail units and station platforms.
“In a series of curated ‘pavilions’, exhibitions and events, North will explore the breadth and strength of talent within the region,” according to a press statement. High-profile institutions will oversee the pavilion shows; Ikon gallery is responsible for the Birmingham Pavilion while Bureau gallery will organise the Manchester pavilion. The participating artists will be announced shortly.
North is delivered in partnership with the Warrington Contemporary Art Festival; funders include the Arts Council England and the Warrington Council. “We aim [to highlight] the strength this year of Warrington's position between two northern art super powers, Manchester and Liverpool, and to tie in with the existing festival as a partner,” says William Lunn, the chief curator of North.
“Talks curator Anna Harnden and I grew up watching the increasing strength of galleries and institutions in the north, in spite of the cultural power of London, and this formed the root of our inspiration,” he says.
The new event also includes two “focus exhibitions”. The Dream of Modern Living: Contemporary Artists Explore Ikea will feature 12 artists who have made works inspired by the Swedish furniture retail giant, which opened its first UK branch in Warrington in 1987. The show, at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery (2 October-14 November), is organised by the writer Paul Carey-Kent.
The exhibition includes the 2007 film Stealing Beauty by Guy Ben Ner, which shows the Israeli video artist living with family members in a series of Ikea model rooms in stores in Tel Aviv, Berlin and New York. The Chester-born artist Ryan Gander will present the piece Lamp Made By the Artist for his Wife (20th, 41st and 45th attempts). Other participants include the UK artists Stuart Hartley and Sara MacKillop.
The second “focus exhibition”, Business as Usual, is organised by the artist Perce Jerrom. He has asked more than 100 artists to create works for business cards, which will be displayed on two Rolodexes at the Pyramid Art Centre in Warrington.
