The SWAc is holding the 10th Open Exhibition at Exeter Castle showing over 170 works from both the selected Open submissions and work of the Academicians.

Please see the new South West Academy website for the complete details:
www.southwestacademy.co.uk

Simpleware Ltd. is organising a visual arts exhibition as part of the European project "Immersion in the Science Worlds through Arts" (ISWA). This long-term project includes events in Rome, Paris and now Exeter.

Exhibiting artists include: Ludwika Ogorzelec, Mat Chivers, Pery Burge, Jo Golesworthy, Paul Magee, Paula Madden, Tim Oldham, Deborah Robinson & David Strang and Christine Sawyer.

The objective of this ISWA project is to use art to:
(a) produce artistic works based on scientific phenomena at a professional level, and
(b) stimulate students at EU high schools to produce their own works and to organize an international competition to prize the best ones. The project intends to realize artistic events through the following artistic disciplines: Modern dance, Cinema, Contemporary art, Imaging, and Literature. The produced art works (including the works produced by the high school students) will be presented to general public at live events throughout Europe.

The consortium includes several scientists, artists, art critics, film directors, actors, musicians and specialists in science popularization, who will work together to achieve the project goals. Universities, research institutes, dance schools, museums, theatres will be involved, together with the famous European Synchrotron Radiation Facility which hosts every year thousands of scientists, including Nobel Prize winners.

The project is coordinated by Prof Franco Rustichelli from the Universita Politecnica Delle Marche, and will run for a duration of 2 years.

ISWA is funded by the European Union through the FP7 Programme Science in Society (SiS).

The exhibition is organised by Simpleware Ltd, Tracey Lloyd and Decca Warrington.
For more information visit:
http://cordis.europa.eu/

Diverse classical music from local, regional and nationally known classical ensembles.The day's performances will culminate in the premiere performance of Requiem for the Lost by Triste VirHarmonic (Virtual Philharmonic) - a virtual performance composed and conducted by the event's producer Ondrej Pochyly.

In the evening Devils Ensemble, a new act developed especially for the event, will be perform a selection of known and unknown pieces from Eastern Europe in a classical style. The music will be accompanied by digital projections of artwork created by Alex Hyde.

Throughout the day a trial tent will be available, where people can get their hands on experience of top of the range digital music technology.

For more information visit:
www.tristemusic.co.uk/ECME/

YouTube trailer. Click this link

The War Art exhibition will coincide with Exeter City 'Summer in the City 2011' Festival and Armed Forces week, to raise awareness of Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CR-PTSD), using art to create a bridge of understanding between sufferers and the community.

It will also celebrate the Royal British Legion charity's 90th Anniversary, and 30% of all sales will be donated in acknowledgement of their astounding work in supporting serving and former members of the armed forces.

The participating artists extend a warm welcome and hope that you will be able to join them in what promises to be one of this years most memorable exhibition in Exeter.

For more information visit:
Aftermath Facebook page
Aftermath PTSD website

The Exeter Castle hosted the recent Exeter University Athletic Union Ball in May 2011. This large event was held in a marquee in the Exeter Castle courtyard, with a finale of splendid fireworks on the ancient Castle walls.

Video of the event can be seen on YouTube. Click here to see video :

Once again Exeter Castle courtyard and Northernhay gardens is playing host to the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink. The festival takes place between the 29th April and 1st May and offers visitors the chance to indulge in the region’s finest food and drink, see celebrity chefs work their magic and enjoy dedicated activities for families.

There will also be two Festival After Dark events held in Exeter Castle’s courtyard featuring live music from local bands, more delicious regional food, real ales and cider. With day one coinciding with the Royal Wedding, the festival will be a perfect place to enjoy the big day with food and drink fit for a king and a chance to celebrate in style at the Festival After Dark wedding party. Preparations are underway for a right royal celebration!

For latest festival information and to book tickets visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

The ballroom at Exeter Castle set the tone for Rathbones’ Exeter office drinks party on the evening of 31st March.  The event, which was very well attended by clients and members of the local business community, served to highlight Rathbones’ presence in the city. 

The Exeter Castle hosted an evening of carol singing, mince pies and mulled wine to recognise the 10th Christmas British Troops have spent in Afghanistan.

The evening will feature a special performance by Army Captain Xander Rawlins of his charity Christmas single called "1000 miles apart", written whilst on tour in Afghanistan to raise money for service charities including SSAFA Forces Help, BLESMA and Talking2Minds

http://www.decaid.co.uk

Capt Xander Rawlins' charity Christmas single, 1000 miles apart, can be heard on Youtube. Click this link

This bold, imaginative exhibition featured works by twenty-six artists from two countries interpreting a single, poignant theme. Contributors to the exhibition range from internationally known painters, sculptors, and graphic artists such as Brian Froud, Wendy Froud and Alan Lee to young rising stars in the mythic arts field.

Organized by the Chagford Filmmaking Group here in Devon, and the Centre for the Arthurian Imagination in Brittany, this is part of the Shared Legends Project, a unique cultural exchange between two countries that share a rich mythic heritage.

In the historic surrounds of Exeter’s Rougemont Castle, five very different artists are displaying their work for just a few days from Sat 27th Nov to Wed 1st Dec. This exciting exhibition of contemporary art involved painting, sculpture and tapestry.

JOHN MCDERMOTT, RAYA HERZIG - two accomplished inter-national artists have come together to collaborate in a major Public Awareness art exhibition called, ‘Aftermath’. Both have experienced the devastating, soul destroying effects of war at first hand and wish to raise public awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – the invisible wound.

Raya Herzig is a child survivor of five years of the WWII German camps in Poland and another five years recovering in the hospitals of Sweden and Switzerland.  Raya has achieved international recognition for her work since the early 60’s. 

John Mc Dermott was a member of the Royal Navy and a UN Military Observer in conflicts such as the Falklands in 1982, the Gulf Wars in the late 1980’s to Bosnia, Cambodia and West Africa (Sierra Leone) throughout 1990’s.  He is now a full time painter, whose previous visual art work on PTSD was exhibited on the Falkland Islands in 2007, an exhibition attended by HRH Prince Edward. 

www.aftermathptsd.co.uk

For more information about the exhibition, please contact
John Mc Dermott through his website.

this was a unique opportunity to bid for a work by Antony Gormley and other artists.

The auction raised money for bursaries for the 2010 Dartmoor Arts Summer School. A unique opportunity arose to bid for 'Lost Boy', a carbon and casein drawing by Antony Gormley RA, which raised more than £3000.

For further information:
www.dartmoorarts.com

Coldplay and La Roux played an extremely special show at Exeter Castle on Saturday, 19th December, as part of Mencap's new Big Noise Session. The show marked a homecoming for Chris, who was born and bred in Exeter.

The stunning Exeter Castle served as a backdrop for this unique event, which was staged inside a marquee transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland. It was in this festive, intimate setting that La Roux and Coldplay performed unique sets.

Says Chris Martin:
"I don't think there could be a better way to end the decade... La Roux, Lily Allen, Jo Whiley - what more can you ask for? We're proud to support Mencap and, for me, it's exciting to play my hometown. We haven't played there since 2000. It's going to be really, really special."

Says Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley (who is behind the Little Noise Sessions):
"This gig has all the right ingredients... a beautiful location, Christmas spirit, one of the best bands in the world and special friends all in an intimate setting. Add mulled wine, mistletoe, candles and carols and this will be the ultimate winter warmer. I couldn't be more thrilled that Coldplay, Lily and La Roux want to make a big festive Noise for Mencap."

Videos of the event can be seen on YouTube. Click this link to see one of many videos
Coldplay's website has several photos of the Exeter Castle gig - Click this link

Exeter Castle, 3 - 16th October 2009

At the beginning of the millennium a number of established artists and others with a passion for the Arts, joined together to form a new Academy, based in Exeter. One of their prime objectives was to bring together the Fine and Applied Arts at the highest level and represent the hundreds of talented and skilful artists who live and work in the South West.

The Academy mounts magnificent annual open exhibitions, gives public lectures. As the Academy goes from strength to strength, their ambition is to establish a centre of excellence in the South West. Amongst its members are many distinguished artists with international reputations who regularly exhibit with the Academy in the Open Exhibitions.

For further information visit:
www.southwestacademyoffineandappliedarts.org.uk

The Late, Late Summer Party in aid of Families for Children was an outstanding success. This fine party, held mid-September at the Exeter Castle, featured live music, an art exhibition, hog roast, and a silent auction. Now that the music is over and the hog has all gone, the organisers would like to share the excellent news that the event raised £21,780 for Families for Children.