Call for submissions for first Asthma UK art exhibition
05 September 2006

Emerging artists are being asked to submit work for ‘Deep Inspiration’, the first ever Asthma UK exhibition, which will open at the Jerwood Space in London on 30 January.

The deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 27 October 2006.

The free, week-long public event will be based around the themes of breath and breathing, and it is hoped that by showcasing the work of talented artists it will develop a link between asthma and art.

A share of the £6,000 Polly Campbell Prize Fund will be awarded to artists whose work contains an original insight into asthma and conveys a challenging and imaginative message for change. The awards are being made in the memory of Polly Campbell who died suddenly of asthma in 2003, a few weeks short of her tenth birthday.

In addition to the award announcement there will be a media launch and a ticketed reception evening where art by well-known artists including Gavin Turk, Damien Hirst and Turner Prize nominee Fiona Banner will be auctioned.

Gavin explained: ‘I agreed to support and endorse this event because I have had asthma since I was a kid and now my daughter suffers from it. The cures and remedies are still elusive to us. The motivation and subject matter behind this project could lead to an exciting array of artworks, and I am curious to see how it may develop.’

Asthma UK’s Special Events Manager Yvonne Mulloy said: ‘It is the first ever Asthma UK art exhibition and we hope it will challenge perceptions of asthma, as well as raise much needed funds towards our work of improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK with asthma. We are pleased to have the support of Gavin Turk in putting on this exhibition and expect there to be a huge amount of interest in the art on show.’

Curator Emma Russell continues: ‘This exhibition is an exciting opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work alongside Gavin Turk and Damien Hirst at the Jerwood Space.’

Artists interested in submitting their work can get more details from the Arts Council’s ArtsNews mailing list from early September 2006. Details on how to subscribe to view listings can be found on the Arts Council website or by sending an email to artsnews-join@listmail.artsfb.org.uk.

For more details on how to apply Deep Inspiration: How to submit your work (132 kb)