Gender, disability, home, nationhood, environment, mental health, industrialisation and social injustice. 

11 timely and powerful artworks respond to the theme ‘The State We’re In’ on thousands of billboards and outdoor digital screens across the four nations of the UK.

The exhibition ’The State We’re In’ is open in towns and cities, large and small, across our four nations, freely available to millions of people for 4 weeks: from London to Glasgow to Manchester, Southampton and Cardiff. Look out for the artworks on high-streets, bus stops, cinemas and billboards near you!

Artworks were selected from almost 1,300 works submitted to our global, public open call. The Gallery also commissioned four new artworks. The works are created in diverse mediums including photography, illustration, oil painting, collage and digital printing.

The Gallery is a new kind of cultural institution, a major gallery without walls, created by Artichoke in collaboration withz Public Artist Martin Firrell. It is the result of a unique partnership with the UK Out-of-Home* industry including the industry leaders, Clear Channel and JCDecaux,

The Gallery is on the street and in your face, without walls and with plenty of attitude.

The Gallery exists to generate meaningful debate through art about the important questions of our time. This is a new kind of cultural institution, without walls – bringing thought-provoking art to everyone, twice a year, every year.

Seen on billboards and digital screens across our four nations, The Gallery examines urgent topical themes to encourage a national conversation.

The brainchild of arts producers Artichoke, with creative director Martin Firrell, The Gallery will challenge traditional models of viewing art with a programme that’s bold, ambitious and unafraid. Founded on a belief that art should be democratic, accessible and engaging, The Gallery aims to reach millions of Brits, showcasing exciting new work by diverse artists no matter where they are in the world.

Launched in partnership with the Out-of-Home* advertising industry, including Clear Channel and JCDecaux, the project aims to make art truly accessible in an outdoor gallery that thrusts thought-provoking pieces into the heart of public conversations.

The biannual exhibitions will be produced by Artichoke and sets out to nurture and develop early and mid-career artists, giving them a platform and guidance on producing art in the public realm.

Each biannual exhibition season is produced by Artichoke and sets out to nurture and develop artists at all levels, giving them a platform and guidance on producing art in the public realm.

Season 2 sees the addition of a Learning and Participation programme which includes the artwork created in collaboration with artists Becca + Clare and young people from The Trinity Centre Arts Club in Cardiff. In addition, alongside local artists, The Gallery will be running workshops in Wales and Northern Ireland for young people who will have the opportunity to learn about art in the public space and create their own piece of work in response to the theme, ‘The State We’re In’.

Founded in 2005 by Helen Marriage and Nicky Webb, the company’s aim is to work with artists to create unique, large-scale experiences that appeal to the widest possible audience. We don’t believe the arts should take place only behind the closed doors of theatres, concert halls or galleries. Instead, you will find us working in the street, public squares, along the coast or in the countryside.

From London to Liverpool, Durham and Derry~Londonderry, we have transformed places across the UK. Bringing communities together through our learning and participation work, we leave a legacy of skills and newfound potential behind.

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