Birr Theatre issues open call for artists based in the midlands

Artists from across the midlands has been invited to submit works for Birr Theatre & Arts Centre's 19th annual 'Common Ground' exhibition.

This year's annual exhibition of works by artists living in the midlands will be held from December 2026 to the end of January 2027.

The theme for 'Common Ground' (referring to a group of artists coming together to exhibit) will be 'Reach', which asks artists to 'reach inward toward new skills, new materials, a new way of seeing'.

Alternatively, artists are asked to 'reach outward toward the world, toward each other, and the edges of what they know and whatever waits beyond them'.

In announcing this year's application process, Birr Theatre & Arts Centre said: 'Dreams and ambitions, connection and discovery, boundaries tested and crossed. The theme is yours to stretch. Physical, temporal or spiritual, playful or profound, there's no single way in. Paint it, sculpt it, stitch it, photograph it, build it. All mediums are welcome'.

The exhibition will be selected by a guest curator to be announced in due course.

The organisers said that it is intended for the resulting exhibition to showcase the exceptional talent and diversity of visual artists from the midlands.

'We would like to encourage submissions. This process is not intended to place any artist over another, but to offer a professionally selected exhibition opportunity for all artists in the area.

This exhibition allows artists the opportunity to interpret the theme in their own unique way.

This selected show is open to all media including painting, drawing, print, photography, sculpture, etc.

With this in mind, we invite artists to submit a maximum of two pieces for consideration', the organisers said.

There is a €10 entry fee per artist and submissions should be delivered to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 between 1pm and 5pm.

It is advised to submit two pieces to give the guest selector scope to include as many artists as possible.

To find out more about 'Common Ground', visit www.birrtheatre.com