In March 2020, before the full force of COVID-19 impacted our communities across the United Kingdom, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District held a successful art competition and exhibition in Bath. The theme was “The Art of Communication in the Commonwealth”.
The competition was open to all artists, from school age to professionals, who were local to the Bath area. On March 8th, the Commonwealth Affirmation Day at Bath Abbey was followed by a prizegiving ceremony, attended by a packed crowd. Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis presented the awards, with the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset and the Mayor of Bath in attendance, along with local families, students, artists and sponsors.
Godfrey Hall, the Chairman of RCS Bath, greenlit the project in late 2019 after a proposal by Anita St John Gray to hold an art competition in order to raise the profile of the society. A steering committee was duly formed, chaired by Anita, and included Alan Cox, Alan Howe, Andrew Prentice and Naomi Box. Katie O’Brian from 44AD artspace was approached with the proposal, and she agreed to project manage the competition and exhibition.
The exhibition was held over two weeks in early March, with a diverse range of pieces from over 200 artists. There was a strong body of work from local schools, both primary and secondary, and an outstanding contribution by amateur and professional artists. The event was covered by the local media, who noted the high standard of artwork on display and the support it had provided to the community.
Under the leadership of Godfrey Hall, RCS Bath continues to work tirelessly to uphold the values of the Commonwealth through projects and bursaries. We are grateful for all the support given by committee members, members of the public, and our sponsors.