Contemporary Art – Wells and Worcester

Contemporary art is the theme for this summer at Wells and Worcester cathedrals as both prepare to host unique art exhibitions.

The Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) exhibition will open in Wells Cathedral on Saturday 5th August and includes an installation show, 29 site-specific works located throughout the cathedral and its grounds, and a gallery show with 137 artworks across painting, sculpture, print, photography, drawing and more displayed in the cathedral’s Cloisters.

In its twelfth year, the final selection for this year’s WAC 2023 exhibition includes over 160 works from artists based in Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Spain, Slovakia, Panama and the USA in addition to the UK and features a wide range of media, from painting and textiles to printmaking, video and photography.

The pieces will be displayed along three sides of the cathedral’s cloisters during August. There are also site-specific installations drawing inspiration from the architecture and historic resonances of the building that create a trail throughout the cathedral itself and its gardens.

WAC Exhibition Director, Bill Lloyd, explained:

“While not asking for religious art, the brief was for ideas which convey a sense of spiritual intensity in response to these unique medieval spaces.”

Established in 2012 by artists for artists, Wells Art Contemporary is an open competition for innovative visual art and aims to support creatives, stimulate debate, and push the boundaries of the visual arts scene both nationally and internationally.

As part of its ongoing education and outreach programme, WAC collaborates with local and mental health charities to display artworks and community projects alongside the exhibition.

It runs until 2 September.

Art in Sacred Spaces exhibition opened in Worcester Cathedral this week showcasing the work of eleven professional visual artists, three local schools and a community art installation, totalling over 50 pieces around the cathedral from a diverse range of media including textiles, glass, sculpture, paintings and fashion design.
Other events for summer include a family picnic, family tours, art-inspired arts and crafts sessions, a family-friendly event to learn more about the bee and how we can help it thrive in our gardens and a fashion show of fashions down the years and a talk on fashion too.

Art in Sacred Spaces is on show until the end of August, find out more here.