One of the UK’s biggest contemporary art exhibitions on show across three venues in West Suffolk

Frances Stanley, chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Horseracing Museum, with Pat Hanlon, Vice Chair of West Suffolk Council and Cliff Waterman, leader of West Suffolk Council viewing the work of the Connor Brothers at a preview held at the National Horseracing Museum, in Newmarket. Photo: West Suffolk Council.

One of the UK’s biggest and most exciting contemporary art exhibitions has welcomed its first visitors when it opens its doors yesterday (Saturday, June 3).

Featuring the work of Banksy, My Dog Sighs, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and many more, “Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour” will give West Suffolk residents the opportunity to see some of the best contemporary art from world renowned artists at three local venues.

The new exhibition follows on from the success of the “Moments” exhibition which West Suffolk Council held at Moyse’s Hall Museum, in Bury St Edmunds, in 2021. That led to the council working in partnership with the National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) in Newmarket and Haverhill Arts Centre to deliver the exhibition across more of its towns.

“Mutiny in Colour” opened at Moyse’s Hall Museum and the National Horseracing Museum from yesterday while Haverhill Arts Centre will be displaying works from July 15. Each venue will display different works so people are encouraged to visit all three to get the most out of the experience.

Among the works on display will be life-size, high-resolution photographs of the seven pieces of work Banksy painted in Ukraine, some of which have since been destroyed by air strikes. Exhibition goers will be able to donate to the appeal for the Ukraine.

Entry costs at all three venues are being kept as low as they can while covering costs.

Cliff Waterman, the leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This is an exciting and internationally important exhibition that will help make modern art accessible for local residents and visitors alike. That’s why I am delighted, that building on the success of ‘Moments’ in 2021, West Suffolk Council is working in partnership with the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre to deliver this fantastic exhibition in three venues across the district. I am fiercely aware of the cost-of-living crisis and so really pleased that admission costs have been kept low to help as many people as possible experience this event.

“Some of this art is fun, some of it is thought-provoking and some of it is challenging. But art and our wider mix of leisure and cultural activities is important in helping make West Suffolk such a fantastic place to live and work and also to our own individual health and wellbeing.

“We also expect ‘Mutiny in Colour’, just as ‘Moments’ did, to attract a great many visitors to West Suffolk and benefit the tills of local shops, cafés, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Importantly, this exhibition offers the chance for each of us to show our solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine, many of whom have become our friends and neighbours here in West Suffolk and raise awareness of the tragedy they have endured.”

A special preview of the exhibition was held for project partners, media and other guests at the National Horseracing Museum, in Newmarket, on Thursday evening.

Frances Stanley, chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Horseracing Museum, said: “We are indebted to Brandler Galleries for facilitating this outstanding exhibition to go ahead. We are delighted to be working in partnership with both West Suffolk Council and Haverhill Town Council to organise this, one of the largest, most exciting and important exhibitions of contemporary art that will be taking place in the UK this summer.

“Art is made to be enjoyed, to provoke and challenge, to get us all thinking, but most of all to be seen. That is why it’s wonderful to be able to bring the work of internationally important artists to three West Suffolk venues. And it’s why all partners have agreed to keep admission costs as low as we can while covering our overheads. We are sure the exhibition will attract lots of interest from local residents and visitors alike and we cannot wait to open our doors. We hope that they will be amazed by what they see.”

Haverhill Arts Centre will be joining the exhibition from July 15.

Daniel Schumann, creative director of Haverhill Arts Centre said: “When something like this lands in a place like Haverhill, the real power and value of great art in local places delivered accessibly can be seen. Culture both inspires and regenerates – it is no longer an urban myth; it is proven fact. The cultural sector of Norfolk and Suffolk contributes £272 million in GVA per year. It has delivered over 7,000 jobs and helps shape a different kind of economy, based on wellbeing and sustainability.

“Our high streets and town centres need the regenerative power of the arts more now than ever and projects like this in places in Haverhill, a hardworking town but one without great wealth or history, shows how by reimagining how we populate town centres and reinvigorating a sense of place, market towns may thrive once more. Great art raises aspirations, creates conversations and brings together communities – that’s why ‘Mutiny in Colour’ is so welcome in Haverhill.”

John Brandler, of Brandler Galleries, who worked with the council on the Moments exhibition, is supporting ‘Mutiny in Colour’.

He said: “Following on from the ‘Moments’ exhibition in 2021, which was such a great success, I’m delighted to be working with West Suffolk Council again on the ‘Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour’ exhibition, alongside the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre.

“This exhibition across three West Suffolk venues will include over 300 pieces of art of all sizes and consequently, will be one of the biggest and most exciting contemporary arts exhibitions anywhere in the UK, this summer.

“It’s been a mammoth undertaking to take on such an extraordinary project, which has taken about a year to pull together.  But working with the expert teams at West Suffolk Council, the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre has made the project a very enjoyable one.”

Tickets for each venue cost £7 per adult and £3 for children aged between 12 and18. Under 12’s go free, but still require a ticket.

To book visit https://www.moyseshall.org/whats-on/details.cfm?id=768947&ins=1106990

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *