Festive Evening at the Gallery 21st December 7:30

Northants Open Studios Trails 2016 - open now!

This Year's Open Studios and Art Trails month kicks off this weekend with a launch event in the Manor House Gardens, Kettering (in front of the Alfred East Art Gallery).   The preview and awards ceremony follows in the Gallery from 5 til 7 on Saturday evening ...

Come along and see what's happening in the gardens ... join in the Little Draw ... throw down some pots with Stella ... buy some Art ... meet up with the Friends ... it's all happening 11 til 4 ...

The first of the Art Trails are already open and the event runs at artists' studios and local exhibitions across the county all through September ... pop down to the launch to pick up a guide to what's happening near you.

Not to be missed ...

Comics into the evening at the AEG

Lovely to go down to the Gallery a week or so back for the special evening opening of the Comics exhibition ... 

Great exhibition and nice to see plenty of people enjoying the Gallery on a balmy Friday evening (enjoying a glass of wine and mixing with a lively crowd of graphic artists and collectors) ...

Always good to see the Gallery open when people are free in the evenings ... 

Looks like someone was keeping watch over us too ...

(Comics Unstripped at the Alfred East Art Gallery)

Wednesday 20th July ... coming soon ...

Next Wednesday ... at the Art Gallery ... 7:30 ... come early and have a glass of wine or cup of tea/coffee ...

7:30PM Wednesday 15th June at the Art Gallery

Growing Old Playfully - May to July at the Alfred East Gallery

Previews Saturday, 1 til 3 with meet the artist events at the Gallery 24th May 1:30 to 3:30, 1st June 1:30 to 3:30, 9th June 1:30 to 3:30 and 18th June 1:30 to 3:30 ... all welcome.

Open 16 Awards

OPEN 16 Results announced

(Kettering art Gallery: Awards night at the Open 16)

Three prize winners were chosen from 253 entries, by a panel of local arts professionals. The winners each received a cash award, kindly supported by Kettering Borough Council, Taxassist and Portland Print.

Award of £500 for the Soft Pastel drawing of a horse, ‘Serenity’ presented to Amanda Drage
Award of £250 for the Textile piece, ‘Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island’ presented to Karen Wyeth
Award of £150 for the Screen Print, ‘Rotherhithe Wakehouse’ presented to John McGowan

This year saw the fourth year of the Youthopen16 where young artists showcase their talents and face a gruelling panel of judges themselves. An outstanding display from the young artists has entered 27 pieces into the exhibition and several winners in three age categories. The prizes were sponsored by the Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum, Kettering and District Art Society (KDAS), and Youthworks.

8-11
Overall Winner - Lorna Lowrie for her piece ‘Gato Cinzento’
Highly Commended - Ruby Spedding for her ink drawing ‘Chappie’
Commended - Lili Howe for her watercolour ‘My Dream’

12-15
Joint Overall Winners - Henry Rivett for his untitled work in graphite, and Jacob Moreton for his sculpture in limestone ‘Daisy Dog’
Highly Commended - Nicole Cifola for her pastel and ink ‘Life in Disguise’
Commended - Craig Richardson for his computer image ‘Recreation’

16-18
Overall Winner - Jacob Mawby for his oil and acrylic artwork OAB mix
Highly Commended - Savanna Maye for her pencil sketch ‘Amore’
Commended - Charlie Wright for his light and dark photograph

(a happy winner - photo with permission)

The KDAS prize for most promising newcomer in any media or category went to Lorna Lowrie, aged 8, for her piece ‘Gato Cinzento’.

Friends 2015/2016 year in pictures

Friends 2015/2016 year in pictures ... click the button ..

Friends of the Art Gallery & Museum AGM and April talk

Do you have any local music memorabilia? ‘I Love Music: Kettering’ comes to the Manor House Museum   This year’s Summer Exhibition at the Manor House Museum, running from Saturday 18th June to Saturday 17th September, is all about Kettering and music. Our galleries will display changing musical trends since the War and the impact they had on our town - so we need your help!   We aim to feature every sort of music from every decade right up to the present day. So if you have anything connected with Kettering’s music scene past and present - think pictures, posters, programmes, records, adverts, sheet music, instruments, records player, tape players, videos, autographs, clothing or memories - you would like to record, please get in touch as soon as possible.   We are particularly interested in local musicians such as Richard Coles from The Communards, Horace Panter from The Specials, Jim Dale, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Mungo Jerry, and also the big names that came and played in the town such as Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, and The Who etc.   The exhibition opens in June 2016 but to help plan the exhibition staff would be looking to collect suitable objects by the end of May 2016. All objects will be returned at the end of the exhibition in September 2016.   If you have any items that you may think are suitable for the exhibition then please contact Louise Hannam, Museum Officer on 01536 535 609 or email louisehannam@kettering.gov.uk   Guy Holloway, Head of Corporate and Cultural Services at Kettering Borough Council, said:   “At the Manor House Museum we’re always trying to display new and interesting exhibitions with a local perspective. Kettering has had some important local musicians and some of the big names have played in the town over the years so it will be great to see what memorabilia will be on display”.   Cllr Lesley Thurland, Kettering Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture, said:   “Do you have anything that offers a glimpse into the music history of Kettering that you would be happy to share with others in this interesting exhibition? We’d love to hear from you!”

Friends evening talk for February: John Cartwright

Collection Connections Alfred East Art Gallery: 9 January – 13 February

Collection Connections

Alfred East Art Gallery: 9 January – 13 February

The Alfred East Art Gallery will celebrate Kettering’s local art history by showing the connections within our collection amongst other artists. The exhibition will link up the artists according to their interesting lives, art education and exhibitions they were involved in.

Visitors will be asked to add to the findings with their own personal stories and see if other links can be found. The preview for this exhibition is on the 8^th January 6 - 8pm. All are welcome.

Guy Holloway, Head of Corporate and Cultural Services at Kettering Borough Council, said:

“If your New Year's resolution is to explore more on your doorstep, look no further than what’s on offer at Kettering Museum and Art Gallery.