Young Chesterfield Artists Unveil 'Through Our Eyes' Exhibition in Town Centre
A vibrant group of young artists from Chesterfield is preparing to showcase their creative talents in a new public exhibition at the heart of the town. Titled 'Chesterfield Through Our Eyes', the display will be hosted at the Pavements Shopping Centre from Saturday, February 14, through Sunday, March 14.
Next Gen Collective Takes Centre Stage
The exhibition features works by members of the Next Gen collective, all aged between 16 and 30, who were invited to participate in a unique opportunity to gain professional experience. As part of the Animate Chesterfield programme, these artists responded to a specific brief to produce pieces for a public showcase, focusing on what Chesterfield means to them, their personal connections to the town, and their visions for its future.
Each artist employed diverse formats and techniques, resulting in a rich array of artworks that reflect their individual perspectives and creative expressions.
Inspiring Local Talent and Community Engagement
Emma White, a participant in the Next Gen project, shared her enthusiasm: "It feels really good to take part in the exhibition, which has come together over the last year. I live in Chesterfield, and the town has inspired my artwork and creative expression. I'm looking forward to taking part in the Next Gen exhibition and showing different pieces of art that the group and I have created."
The exhibition stands are funded through Animate Chesterfield, a public art programme integrated into regeneration projects in Chesterfield and Staveley. After this display concludes, the boards will be repurposed for an exhibition by Derbyshire Makes and will later be available for community groups to host public exhibitions in Chesterfield.
Council and Organisational Support for the Arts
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, commented: "We're excited to be able to offer young local artists the opportunity to gain experience of working to a brief and exhibiting their work. What they have created for this exhibition showcases their fantastic talents, and it's well worth visiting. These new exhibition stands will also ensure that other members of the community will have the opportunity to showcase their work in the town centre."
Next Gen is a project by Junction Arts, designed to support young people interested in creative careers through workshops and events led by professional artists. Jemma Burton, Junction Arts project manager, noted: "Next Gen has been running for three years, and during that time we've had the pleasure of working with some incredibly talented young people who have grown in confidence through the expert guidance and support the programme offers. The Animate Project helped to focus their creativity and gave them the fantastic opportunity to see their work showcased in a public exhibition."
Animate Chesterfield: A Broader Cultural Initiative
Animate Chesterfield is led by Chesterfield Borough Council and delivered by Beam, a cultural development organisation. The programme includes various initiatives such as:
- Appointment of an artist in residence to engage residents and visitors.
- Christmas window trails and careers insight sessions for Chesterfield College students.
- A new town centre mural and a heritage arts trail with sculpture in Staveley.
Funding for this public art project was secured through planning agreements under the council's 'percent for art' scheme, originally part of the previous Local Plan and now continued voluntarily, with all funds dedicated to public art delivery.
