Eight artists vie to exhibit at National Trust property
Visitors to Seaton Delaval Hall will help to decide this year's winners
There are eight shortlisted contenders for the fourth North East Emerging Artist Award, an annual attraction at National Trust property Seaton Delaval Hall.
The competition, a collaboration between the National Trust and independent curator Matthew Jarratt, is open to emerging and early career artists and creative practitioners from the region or studying here.
It embraces all artforms including music/sound, theatre, film, fashion, literature and design as well as fine art.
It’s both an opportunity for artists and a way of showing contemporary art in a grand historic setting.
The eight shortlisted artists have been given bursaries to research and develop their ideas which will be displayed in the Georgian stables at Seaton Delaval Hall from May 14 until June 22.
During this time visitors will be able to join the judging process, voting for their favourite.
The eight shortlisted artists are…
Azeez Aromasodun, a graduate of Teesside University’s Masters in Fine Art and whose work is influenced by the culture of the Yoruba people of West Africa;
Max Cooper-Clark, a Newcastle-based Royal College of Art graduate who connects art, architecture, ecology and mineral extraction in his work;
Bethan Harris, a Newcastle University fine art graduate whose work explores memory and the natural world;
David Kenny, a Stockton on Tees-based former architect who explores light and shadows in architectural forms;
Paulina Malowaniec, of Gateshead, has an MA in Communication Design from Northumbria University and is interested in cultural heritage and using design and art as a tool for education;
Joanna Manousis, a PhD student who is currently exploring mirror making in cast glass at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland;
Suzanne Smith, a final year student on the BA (Hons) Glass & Ceramics course at Sunderland University;
Wilfred Sears, a fine art student at Newcastle University.
Through the judging process, three proposals will be selected and realised for exhibiting at Seaton Delaval Hall in 2026.
Meanwhile, the winners of last year’s competition, Jordan Edge, Phoebe Scott and Lucy Waters, are developed their proposals now for displaying at the property from September 16 to October 19.
Seaton Delaval Hall has been closely associated with the arts throughout its long history.
In the 18th Century the Delaval family commissioned renowned artists Arthur Pond and William Bell, the former to produce views of the hall and the latter to produce portraits of family members.
Read more: Shortlist revealed for Gordon Burn Prize
Bell was also provided with a cottage and a stipend and as well as producing pictures gave art lessons to the children of Sir John Delaval.
The family also supported controversial novelist John Cleland, famous as the author of the erotic Fanny Hill.
More recently, the 22nd Baron Hastings, who lived at Seaton Delaval Hall from 1990 until his death in 2007, was a ballet lover and a governor of the Royal Ballet for 13 years.
Even more recently, it was announced that Luke Jerram’s latest sculptural creation, Helios, is to be displayed at the property from March 19 to April 6.
From May 14 until June 22, when the North East Emerging Artist Award contenders will be on display, Seaton Delaval Hall will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, during term times (seven days a week during Northumberland school holidays).
Standard admission applies.