AN EXCITING winter exhibition at a popular North Clare gallery is now open for expression of interest from artists.

The Courthouse Gallery and Studios, in Ennistymon, has just announced an open call for submissions to the new Winter Open Exhibition. That show will take the place of the annual Summer Open Exhibition which had to be cancelled because of the pandemic. Work is also been sought for Trasna IX this December.

These exhibitions have been devised to end the year on a positive celebratory note while also supporting The Courthouse Gallery to fundraise in the face of a difficult financial year. Deadline for submissions is November 29.

The Winter Open Exhibition is described “a celebration of visual art in all its forms, open to artists of all levels and styles”. It will be staged in the main gallery space of the Courthouse Gallery. Artworks may be priced at the artist’s discretion, with the gallery’s standard 25% commission.

Trasna IX is a postcard format exhibition. The A5-sized artwork which will be exhibited in the Red Couch Gallery on the second floor. Unlike the Winter Open all works are art sold anonymously and for standard price of €50. The artist will receive all proceeds of this sale.

There is no theme for either exhibition and they will take place concurrently in December, the curator would like to invite a rich and diverse selection of artists and artwork.

There is a submission fee for both exhibitions, €10 for the Winter Open and €5 for Trasna IX. The fee must be paid in advance of submitting artwork and can be done online at Thecourthousegallery.com. Full details of key dates and guidelines for submission and delivery of work are also available on the website. More information is available by email to submissions@thecourthousegallery.com.

Because this is a fundraising initiative, there will be no artist’s fee and organisers anticipate accepting a sizable and diverse range of works.