Gallery on YouTube
For an introduction to MK-Gallery and MK Theatre, take a look at this new short film, available on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RfN00QVoKQ.
In just over 2 minutes it provides a flavour of our programme and achievements in our first ten years. Spread the word!
Video: Arts in Milton Keynes are Flourishing
Visit this link to see a short film promoting the arts in Milton Keynes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz_9LKUkO4M
Milton Keynes Arts Guide
Milton Keynes Gallery features in a free, pocket-sized Arts Guide is available at the Gallery. Use it to identify and locate the city’s many and varied arts venues. Alternatively, visit this link for a downoadable copy: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/artsguide .
Turner Prize Winner a former Gallery exhibitor
The winner of the 2009 Turner Prize, Richard Wright, held a solo show at Milton Keynes Gallery in Autumn 2000. He made a large, red, geometrical wall drawing for the Cube Gallery space, responding to the Gallery’s architecture, and referencing the auditorium seating in adjacent MK Theatre. Wright’s solo show in Milton Keynes Gallery in 2000 is included in a Richard Wright catalogue co-published with Locus Plus, available from the Gallery Shop price £12.75.
British sculptor Hiorns (also shortlisted for the 2009 Turner Prize) exhibited in Milton Keynes in spring 2006 — his first solo show in a UK public gallery. The accompanying catalogue presents a selection of his trademark car engines, encrusted in copper sulphate crystals, together with his remarkable foam-filled ceramic vessels. A limited supply of the catalogue, which includes essays by Tom Morton and JJ Charlesworth, is still available from the Gallery Shop, price £18. To order our publications ring Simon Wright on 01908 676 900 or email s.wright@mk-g.org.
The 2008 Turner Prize winner, mark Leckey, will be exhibiting at Milton Keynes Gallery from 16 April — 27 June 2010.
For an introduction to MK-Gallery and MK Theatre, take a look at this new short film, available on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RfN00QVoKQ.
In just over 2 minutes it provides a flavour of our programme and achievements in our first ten years. Spread the word!
Video: Arts in Milton Keynes are Flourishing
Visit this link to see a short film promoting the arts in Milton Keynes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz_9LKUkO4M
Milton Keynes Arts Guide
Milton Keynes Gallery features in a free, pocket-sized Arts Guide is available at the Gallery. Use it to identify and locate the city’s many and varied arts venues. Alternatively, visit this link for a downoadable copy: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/artsguide .
Turner Prize Winner a former Gallery exhibitor
The winner of the 2009 Turner Prize, Richard Wright, held a solo show at Milton Keynes Gallery in Autumn 2000. He made a large, red, geometrical wall drawing for the Cube Gallery space, responding to the Gallery’s architecture, and referencing the auditorium seating in adjacent MK Theatre. Wright’s solo show in Milton Keynes Gallery in 2000 is included in a Richard Wright catalogue co-published with Locus Plus, available from the Gallery Shop price £12.75.
British sculptor Hiorns (also shortlisted for the 2009 Turner Prize) exhibited in Milton Keynes in spring 2006 — his first solo show in a UK public gallery. The accompanying catalogue presents a selection of his trademark car engines, encrusted in copper sulphate crystals, together with his remarkable foam-filled ceramic vessels. A limited supply of the catalogue, which includes essays by Tom Morton and JJ Charlesworth, is still available from the Gallery Shop, price £18. To order our publications ring Simon Wright on 01908 676 900 or email s.wright@mk-g.org.
The 2008 Turner Prize winner, mark Leckey, will be exhibiting at Milton Keynes Gallery from 16 April — 27 June 2010.
Milton Keynes Gallery on Facebook
Shadow Arts Minister visits Gallery
Our ‘Making Art Work for Milton Keynes’ event on 10 February proved a great success with its capacity audience, who learnt from our project partners about the different ways we work each year with thousands of children and adults to further the appreciation and impact of contemporary art. I really enjoyed the event; there was a real warmth in the way the speakers referred to their work with the Gallery and it was inspiring to see real examples of the collaborations and the art work it has resulted in. (Corinna Milner, Broughton Community Mobiliser)
Earlier in the day, Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Culture Minister, came to meet Gallery Director Anthony Spira, visit the Marcus Coates exhibition and hear how the gallery’s programme works in the community. They were joined by Sally Abbot, Director of Arts, Arts Council England South East, and David Hill, Chief Executive, MK Council. The event was supported by Red Hot World Buffet and MK News.
Click here to see a video interview about Education at Milton Keynes Gallery on MK News’s website.
Click here for ‘Making Art Work for Milton Keynes’ event programme, speaker biographies and core education programme document.
New Corporate Patron
Bluecube Technology Solutions have become the latest Company to join Milton Keynes Gallery’s Corporate Patrons Scheme in their capacity as the generous provider of the Gallery’s IT support. Visit www.bluecube-uk.com for details of Bluecube. To find out more about the Corporate Patrons scheme please email Kate Chadwick, Administration Manager, at k.chadwick@mk-g.org.
Gallery Wins Best Company Practice Award
Open Access Evening 2008, photo by Derek Wales
At an award ceremony in Aylesbury on 23 April 2009, Milton Keynes Gallery and Milton Keynes Theatre won the Bucks Vision (formerly Buckinghamshire Association for Blind and Partially Sighted People) (BAB) Best Company Practise Award. They were put forward for the Award by members of the Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery Disability Access Steering Group and BAB members who participated in the Gallery’s 'Seeing is Not Believing' project last year and various access events for the visually impaired at the Theatre.
Natalie Walton, Head of Education at Milton Keynes Gallery said: "We are delighted to receive this Award. As it is was the members of Bucks Vision who have voted for Milton Keynes Gallery, it is an acknowledgement of the changes we have made at the Gallery to ensure visually impaired visitors can fully engage with, debate about and enjoy contemporary art."
In the 'Seeing is Not Believing' project Milton Keynes Gallery worked with visually impaired members of BAB over three months, taking inspiration from the Richard Woods’ exhibition and exterior commission 'Flora and Fauna'. The BAB group took part in discussions and art workshops led by Natalie, challenging their experience of contemporary art, developing their skills as artists and acquiring new interpretation methods. At the conclusion of the project, Milton Keynes Gallery hosted a public exhibition of work created and hung by the visually impaired group in its Project Space, including sculptures and wall pieces in bright, bold colours. Thanks to the 'Seeing is Not Believing' project, BAB members return and meet regularly at the Gallery to discuss the work on show.
“The Gallery team have consistently been aware of our needs as visually impaired people and do everything they can to enable our activities. We have established a wonderful relationship with them over the last year or so and, as a result, now have a dedicated touch and described tour of each new exhibition. Our Group is now responding to contemporary art which we had previously found to be inaccessible. Thank you so much for helping us achieve something we never thought possible!" (Seeing is Not Believing participant)
In the last year Milton Keynes Gallery has developed an audience-led approach to public access needs. A disability evening was held in conjunction with Milton Keynes Theatre which was attended by many of the 'Seeing is Not Believing' participants. This led to the formation of a joint Gallery and Theatre Disability Access Steering Group which meets bi-monthly and advises both organisations on access and facilities. Milton Keynes Gallery now offers regular Open Access Evenings – one during each exhibition, providing an audio described tour and opportunities to touch and feel materials used by the exhibiting artists. For information about Gallery services for visitors with access needs or to join our Access free mailing list please contact Rosie Jackson in the first instance on 01908 558 302 or email r.jackson@mk-g.org. For information about Bucks Vision and their services ring 01908 395 498 or visit www.bucksblind.co.uk.
Gallery’s Big Draw Event receives national Award
Big Draw 2008 Participants, photo by Derek Wales
At a ceremony held at The British Museum on 30 March 2009, Milton Keynes Gallery collected a prestigious ‘Drawing Inspiration’ Award from the Campaign for Drawing for its successful Big Draw event held in 2008. Last October, 1,250 events took place in 1,100 venues across the UK and out of all these Big Draw programmes, Milton Keynes Gallery won the Runner Up Award and a commemorative certificate designed by leading illustrator and campaign patron, Quentin Blake.
Sue Grayson Ford, Campaign Director, commented “Milton Keynes Gallery fully demonstrated the Big Draw’s aims of bringing people together, engaging them creatively and supporting active learning – all through drawing. I am amazed how organisers constantly expand the boundaries of drawing by bringing vast amounts of enthusiasm and imagination to their events.”
Over 400 children and adults took part in the Big Draw Family Day, joining professional artists, scientists, volunteers and staff in workshops inspired by the art and science themes of Gilberto Zorio’s exhibition at the Gallery in October 2008. Activities included shadow puppetry, drawn animation on 16mm film, spin drawings on potters’ wheels, the use of chemical reactions to make planetary drawings, pendulum painting and UV cosmic drawings made with glow wands in a dark room. The day concluded with a glow in the dark ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ game on Margaret Powell Square outside the Gallery. These activities were supported by The Open University Science Festival, Adult Continuing Education, volunteers from the University of Northampton, Milton Keynes Parks Trust, Milton Keynes Theatre, Cranfield University and the gallery staff team.
The Big Draw 2008’s focus was on teachers’ professional development and science in art. In partnership with Adult Continuing Education, Milton Keynes Gallery also ran ‘Inspired by …’ workshops to experiment with energy, and draw with light and chain reactions. Artists provided taster sessions for teachers, student teachers and art students, building their confidence to develop cross-curricular art and science projects.
Our ‘Making Art Work for Milton Keynes’ event on 10 February proved a great success with its capacity audience, who learnt from our project partners about the different ways we work each year with thousands of children and adults to further the appreciation and impact of contemporary art. I really enjoyed the event; there was a real warmth in the way the speakers referred to their work with the Gallery and it was inspiring to see real examples of the collaborations and the art work it has resulted in. (Corinna Milner, Broughton Community Mobiliser)
Earlier in the day, Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Culture Minister, came to meet Gallery Director Anthony Spira, visit the Marcus Coates exhibition and hear how the gallery’s programme works in the community. They were joined by Sally Abbot, Director of Arts, Arts Council England South East, and David Hill, Chief Executive, MK Council. The event was supported by Red Hot World Buffet and MK News.
Click here to see a video interview about Education at Milton Keynes Gallery on MK News’s website.
Click here for ‘Making Art Work for Milton Keynes’ event programme, speaker biographies and core education programme document.
New Corporate Patron
Bluecube Technology Solutions have become the latest Company to join Milton Keynes Gallery’s Corporate Patrons Scheme in their capacity as the generous provider of the Gallery’s IT support. Visit www.bluecube-uk.com for details of Bluecube. To find out more about the Corporate Patrons scheme please email Kate Chadwick, Administration Manager, at k.chadwick@mk-g.org.
Gallery Wins Best Company Practice Award
Open Access Evening 2008, photo by Derek Wales
At an award ceremony in Aylesbury on 23 April 2009, Milton Keynes Gallery and Milton Keynes Theatre won the Bucks Vision (formerly Buckinghamshire Association for Blind and Partially Sighted People) (BAB) Best Company Practise Award. They were put forward for the Award by members of the Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery Disability Access Steering Group and BAB members who participated in the Gallery’s 'Seeing is Not Believing' project last year and various access events for the visually impaired at the Theatre.
Natalie Walton, Head of Education at Milton Keynes Gallery said: "We are delighted to receive this Award. As it is was the members of Bucks Vision who have voted for Milton Keynes Gallery, it is an acknowledgement of the changes we have made at the Gallery to ensure visually impaired visitors can fully engage with, debate about and enjoy contemporary art."
In the 'Seeing is Not Believing' project Milton Keynes Gallery worked with visually impaired members of BAB over three months, taking inspiration from the Richard Woods’ exhibition and exterior commission 'Flora and Fauna'. The BAB group took part in discussions and art workshops led by Natalie, challenging their experience of contemporary art, developing their skills as artists and acquiring new interpretation methods. At the conclusion of the project, Milton Keynes Gallery hosted a public exhibition of work created and hung by the visually impaired group in its Project Space, including sculptures and wall pieces in bright, bold colours. Thanks to the 'Seeing is Not Believing' project, BAB members return and meet regularly at the Gallery to discuss the work on show.
“The Gallery team have consistently been aware of our needs as visually impaired people and do everything they can to enable our activities. We have established a wonderful relationship with them over the last year or so and, as a result, now have a dedicated touch and described tour of each new exhibition. Our Group is now responding to contemporary art which we had previously found to be inaccessible. Thank you so much for helping us achieve something we never thought possible!" (Seeing is Not Believing participant)
In the last year Milton Keynes Gallery has developed an audience-led approach to public access needs. A disability evening was held in conjunction with Milton Keynes Theatre which was attended by many of the 'Seeing is Not Believing' participants. This led to the formation of a joint Gallery and Theatre Disability Access Steering Group which meets bi-monthly and advises both organisations on access and facilities. Milton Keynes Gallery now offers regular Open Access Evenings – one during each exhibition, providing an audio described tour and opportunities to touch and feel materials used by the exhibiting artists. For information about Gallery services for visitors with access needs or to join our Access free mailing list please contact Rosie Jackson in the first instance on 01908 558 302 or email r.jackson@mk-g.org. For information about Bucks Vision and their services ring 01908 395 498 or visit www.bucksblind.co.uk.
Gallery’s Big Draw Event receives national Award
Big Draw 2008 Participants, photo by Derek Wales
At a ceremony held at The British Museum on 30 March 2009, Milton Keynes Gallery collected a prestigious ‘Drawing Inspiration’ Award from the Campaign for Drawing for its successful Big Draw event held in 2008. Last October, 1,250 events took place in 1,100 venues across the UK and out of all these Big Draw programmes, Milton Keynes Gallery won the Runner Up Award and a commemorative certificate designed by leading illustrator and campaign patron, Quentin Blake.
Sue Grayson Ford, Campaign Director, commented “Milton Keynes Gallery fully demonstrated the Big Draw’s aims of bringing people together, engaging them creatively and supporting active learning – all through drawing. I am amazed how organisers constantly expand the boundaries of drawing by bringing vast amounts of enthusiasm and imagination to their events.”
Over 400 children and adults took part in the Big Draw Family Day, joining professional artists, scientists, volunteers and staff in workshops inspired by the art and science themes of Gilberto Zorio’s exhibition at the Gallery in October 2008. Activities included shadow puppetry, drawn animation on 16mm film, spin drawings on potters’ wheels, the use of chemical reactions to make planetary drawings, pendulum painting and UV cosmic drawings made with glow wands in a dark room. The day concluded with a glow in the dark ‘Ultimate Frisbee’ game on Margaret Powell Square outside the Gallery. These activities were supported by The Open University Science Festival, Adult Continuing Education, volunteers from the University of Northampton, Milton Keynes Parks Trust, Milton Keynes Theatre, Cranfield University and the gallery staff team.
The Big Draw 2008’s focus was on teachers’ professional development and science in art. In partnership with Adult Continuing Education, Milton Keynes Gallery also ran ‘Inspired by …’ workshops to experiment with energy, and draw with light and chain reactions. Artists provided taster sessions for teachers, student teachers and art students, building their confidence to develop cross-curricular art and science projects.