Suffolk: Constable and Gainsborough art could be on huge billboards across country
How a Constable landscape might look in an urban area. This is the Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, c.1831. - Credit: Archant
Huge billboards across the country could soon be showing some of the finest pieces of work by Suffolk artists.
The public can vote for the British art they want to see in tens of thousands of locations as part of a new exhibition.
Works by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough are touted to be on a 100-strong list which will be whittled down to 50 after a public vote on Facebook.
Director of Gainsborough’s House, Mark Bills, said he would expect the artist’s work to be in the top 10.
He said: “This is a fantastic project. It will be great that there will be some British art shown and I think Facebook will be a useful tool for people who want to find out more about the project.
“I cannot believe that one of the 100 pieces of art will not be a Gainsborough or a Constable.”
The exhibition, called Art Everywhere, is a collaboration between Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks, the Art Fund, the Tate, and the poster industry.
Most Read
- 1 A14 near Ipswich remains partially closed after fire breaks out
- 2 Drought declared in Suffolk as temperatures set to soar this weekend
- 3 A14 in west Suffolk closes overnight after serious multi-vehicle crash
- 4 Crews battle huge 15-acre fire in mid Suffolk village
- 5 Firefighters tackling large fire near country park
- 6 Complaints of 'terrible smell' coming from Melton animal crematorium
- 7 Residents help firefighters tackle huge blaze near homes
- 8 Suffolk letting agent admits swindling customers out of £80,000
- 9 20 fire engines and 90 firefighters contain large forest blaze
- 10 10-acre field fire breaks out in south Suffolk village
Mr Bills added: “It is really good that art tries to reach as many people as possible – it’s really important. What would be really good is if there was information about the artist on the billboard so people can find out more.”
People will have a week to vote for the art they want to see from the shortlist published on www.arteverywhere.org.uk on June 21. The exhibition will then see the art displayed on billboards from August 10 to 25.
Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: “Art Everywhere is an opportunity for everyone to say what kind of art they like from collections all over the country. You can help install a Constable or a Gainsborough at a bus stop or as a huge billboard on the high street – not only in Suffolk, home to some of England’s greatest artists, but also elsewhere in the UK.”
