Artist Takeover Set To Shake-Up The Ferens Art Gallery

Artists are to take over the Ferens Art Gallery, the home of Turner Prize 2017, for a unique evening of celebration, creativity and fun.

Turner//Return is a special late event, which will take place on Thursday 16 November and see the gallery transformed with live music, dance, film screenings, as well as workshops, tours and talks by artists, curators and writers.

There will also be a Dutch inspired ‘feest’, a prosecco bar and a barber offering free haircuts.

With Turner Prize 2017 already attracting big audiences, it is hoped the event will encourage new and younger visitors to the Ferens Art Gallery.

Future Ferens, a group of 18-25 year-olds working to attract young people to the gallery through workshops and creating their own events, will host the ‘feest’ throughout the evening, a fabulous banquet bringing to life the feasts depicted in paintings on the walls of the Dutch 17th Century gallery. Alongside artist Anna Bean they will invite people to join them to talk about art, life, or even their day at work.

Lucy Howson from Future Ferens said: “Too many young people still feel that art is not for them and feel that going into an art gallery can be intimidating and uninviting. Turner//Return is an opportunity for people to experience the artwork in a fun and social environment and break down some formal barriers.”

Turner//Return is free, non-ticketed and runs from 6pm until 10pm.

In the Ferens’ studio, Turner Prize curator Sacha Craddock will host Between Competition & Care, a panel discussion featuring fellow Turner Prize curator George Vasey, BALTIC Director Sarah Munro and Artistic Director of Plymouth Arts Centre Ben Borthwick, to discuss the pros and cons of art competitions.

The panel is on from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. It is free, but online booking is advisable through the Hull 2017 website.

Following the discussion, there will be screenings of emerging artists’ films in the studio, curated by George and Sacha.

Fandangoekid, a graphic artist who documents love and loss and encourages a more open approach to typically taboo subjects, has created a large-scale mural to be displayed in the gallery’s café.

Artist Annie Nicholson will also lead a drop-in creative workshop offering an open platform for dialogue and discussion.

From 7pm–10pm, a prosecco bar in the Thomas Ferens gallery upstairs will include live music headlined by Leeds band Polo, and downstairs local barber Greasy Fingers will be offering free haircuts.

Hull-based art collective Hack and Host will be handing out specially created newspapers outside the gallery and encouraging people to share their thoughts on Turner Prize 2017.

There will also be pop-up dance performances throughout the gallery and free tours for people wanting to learn more about exhibitions at the Ferens.

Martin Green, Director of Hull 2017, said: “This fabulous evening at the Ferens Art Gallery encapsulates what Hull 2017 is all about – making art and culture accessible to a wider audience.

“In its first month, the Turner Prize has had more than 45,000 visitors proving the interest that people in this city, and beyond, have in art. We hope Turner//Return will also bring new audiences into the Ferens and encourage them not to make the visit their last.

This event is part of the Turner Prize 2017 public programme, developed in partnership with Hull 2017 and Hull Culture and Leisure.