A major exhibition of illustrations from around the world will offer the first chance to see inside the University of Worcester's new Art House.
The World Illustration Awards 2018 exhibition will open in the University of Worcester Art House on Friday, October 5th and will be open to the public for four weeks thereafter.
As well as a chance to see the exhibition, which features around 80 pieces of work, from illustrators across the globe, it will provide the first chance for members of the public to get inside the newly refurbished Worcester building.
Professor David Green, the University's Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive said "The University of Worcester Art House springs to life in one of Worcester's most recognisable buildings whose high ceilings and wonderful north light make it a most suitable venue for its new purposes. In the years to come the University's Art House will provide a magnificent facility for students of subjects such as Arts, Illustration and Design as well as those training to become professionals using art for educational and therapeutic purposes. Colleagues at the University will also work imaginatively to create children's creative camps in school holidays and weekends."
The Art House is a sensitive renovation of the former County Furnishings building in Castle Street, opposite the University's main City Campus hub, which was itself a restoration of another of the City's historic buildings, the former Royal Infirmary.
The University has been working with contractors, Stepnell, to breathe new life into the Grade II listed art deco building, which has been a landmark building in Worcester since it was built in 1939 as a car showroom for Lord Austin of Austin Motors.
It will provide a new home for Fine Arts and Illustration students, as well as providing facilities for a range of other arts-based learning. It will also build on the University's cultural contribution to the City, providing public exhibition space and be used as a centre for children's creative camps in school holidays.
The World Illustration Awards, organised by The Association of Illustrators (The AOI), in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, this year drew a record 3,300 entries from 75 countries. The exhibition of shortlisted and category winning projects explores what illustration means today, how it shapes our world and how the art form itself is changing.
Anne Hannaford, the University's Director of Arts and Culture, said: "We are delighted to be able to host such a prestigious exhibition as the first chance for people to get inside the Art House. This is a wonderful new development, which will really bring a new dimension to Worcester's cultural offer."
Arts staff at the University are also working hard to create the opportunity for the Worcester public to have the opportunity to view an acclaimed exhibition of work organised by University of Worcester lecturers, which has itself been touring the world and is currently in South Korea.
The Migrations Exhibition features more than 300 postcards each bearing an illustration of a bird, representing the theme of migration. Leading illustrators from around the world have contributed, including such well-known artists as Axel Scheffler, whose illustrations for the Gruffalo are adored by children everywhere.
The exhibitions will be open to the public daily from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, for 4 weeks, starting on Friday, October 5th. They are free to view.