Chichester's Oxmarket Gallery confirms reopening date

Chichester’s Oxmarket Gallery has confirmed the key dates for its celebration of Sussex’s lockdown art as it prepares for reopening.

The Oxmarket will open its doors for the first time in four months on July 14 with an exhibition of mixed media work in the John Rank Gallery. And then on Tuesday, August 11 for two weeks, the gallery will launch into its Knockout Lockdown Art show. The Knockout Lockdown Art competition is now up and running – and entries are welcome via www.oxmarket.com.

Oxmarket chairman Sophie Hull said: “This is a competition open to all to have a go and express themselves and what lockdown means to them.

“It could be a montage or a photo or a single item. We’d like as many people as possible to enter the art competition and get people engaged. The art will be exhibited and for sale at the Oxmarket Gallery and the proceeds of sales will go to the Love Your Hospital charity, one we can all value, and their Hospital Heroes COVID-19 Appeal for Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“Through the COVID-19 crisis, their staff are working unbelievably hard to care for the most vulnerable patients – our families and friends. They also have many of their own staff who, because of their own health needs, are having to isolate and require support at this time. These are extraordinary times and Love Your Hospital, the dedicated charity of WSHT, and the Oxmarket, are supporting their staff’s physical and emotional wellbeing.”

Sophie added: “We have a superb team of judges for the Knockout Lockdown Art Competition. We have Philip Jackson, Rosemary Marley from West Dean, Catherine Barnes one of our regular and famous artists, and Sussex Newspapers group arts editor Phil Hewitt.

“Catherine Barnes has a long-standing presence in Sussex and Hampshire, with exhibitions in Chichester since 2014. Philip Jackson (who is based near Midhurst) is a world-famous sculptor, noted for his modern style and emphasis on form. And Rosemary Marley is the short course manager, West Dean. We are absolutely thrilled to have such a brilliant panel of judges. Their passion for art and desire to encourage it is so inspiring.