Member Article

Byker Community Centre to host International Art Exhibition direct from NYC!

In January over 700 artists from around the world took part in the sell-out “Nasty Women” exhibition in New York, a fundraiser for women’s health charities. Now Newcastle is hosting its very own version, offering people from far and wide the opportunity to become part of this global art movement and help to raise money for local charities.

Named after the Trump slur to Clinton during presidential debates “Nasty Women” offers artists (and others) the opportunity to be involved in a visual protest against the Trump administration whilst raising money for women’s and LGBT organisations.

Byker Community Centre (BCC), which has long been a hub of cultural and social activity in the East of the city and beyond, is hosting the open submission exhibition entitled “Nasty Women Newcastle” with support from Roxanne Jackson founder of the original NYC exhibition.

After local artist Lady Kitt showed work at “Nasty Women NYC” she, and BCC Development Manager Aly Smith, decided to run their own version of the event. Submissions are open to everyone- there is no need to be an artist, a woman or from Newcastle, in fact submissions have already arrived from as far afield as Mexico! Having received artwork from mutli award winning artists including Margaret Harrison and Sky Arts scholarship recipient Sarah Maple, Kitt and Aly are encouraging local people to donate their work to the event.

Kitt, whose Nasty Women NYC artwork was purchased by an American Politician, says:

“Being part of the Nasty Women movement, as an artist, has been an amazing experience for me. I’d recommend it to anyone; it’s given me opportunities to show my work all over the world.

The reason I’ve become involved with organising the event at Byker Community Centre is because it is such a widely used and invaluable resource for the women of Byker and we feel it is a fitting recipient for money raised. Aly and I are delighted and humbled by how generous people have been - the work we have received so far is stunning and we can’t wait to see what arrives next!“

Money raised for the project will be split 50/ 50 between Byker Community Centre’s Women’s Group and North East LGBT campaigning group “The Fed”.

The deadline for submissions is March 30th. For more information see the Nasty Women Newcastle Facebook group @nastywomennewcastle or email the exhibition Curatorial Assistant Michaela.Wetherell@hotmail.co.uk

The exhibition preview is on April Friday 7th 6-8pm at Byker Community Centre and the exhibition runs until April 22nd.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nicky Mckeen .