the open west is an annual open competition and exhibition inviting work from national and international artists practising contemporary and conceptual art in the fields of painting, installation, film and sound, textile, photography, ceramics, print, drawing, performance and sculpture.

work was shown throughout the interior, the cloisters, the crypt and the internal gardens of this important site which has a reputation for showing ambitious contemporary work. the open west exhibition is the first of its kind to show work of such diversity of medium and scale at the Cathedral. This predominantly secular exhibition, while remaining sensitive to its medieval setting, offered an opportunity to show work in a compelling way that opened new dialogue between the artist, the audience and the space.

2012 selectors - Daniel Chadwick, Iain Andrews, Lyn Cluer Coleman and Sarah Goodwin

. exhibiting artists

. installation images

. a-n review

. 2012 artists talk

news ...

at the private view on Friday 2 March 2012 three award winners were announced:

THE OPEN WEST CURATORS AWARD WINNER

Koji Shiraya

After the Dream (porcelain installation)

UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AWARD WINNER

James P Graham

Sacred Space Illuminated by the Perfect Insect II (pen on paper)

THE OPEN WEST ECOTRICITY AWARD WINNER

Haruka Miyamoto

Mother and Baby Dodos and Tasmanian Tiger (leather, fabric, polyester filling, wire, plastic form)

two Meantime residencies have been awarded | Jemma Appleby and Emma Critchley

(meantime.org.uk/current-events)