The Public is committed to delivering high quality, innovative and locally relevant arts programming, and providing the platform for emerging artists to display work alongside those with international reputations.

 

Current / Forthcoming

  • Summer Exhibition
    20 July to 28 Sept 2013
    Fri, 20 Jan - Fri, 14 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Currently accepting submissions
  • Tracey Emin
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Tue, 14 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Why I Never Became a Dancer
  • Folk Archive
    15 May - 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Folk Archive
  • Hew Locke
    15 May to 20 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Black Queen
  • Teapot
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Animations
  • Immunity Cover
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Gagwaka - Making Strange
  • Doug Fishbone
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Wed, 29 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Newly commissioned work
  • Lucy McLauchlan
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Vessels in Vain
  • Martin Creed
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Work No. 329 Half the Air in a Given Space
  • Cedric Price
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed-Sun)
    Wed, 15 May - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 4.00pm
    Free
  • MD Face
    18 May to 21 June (Wed - Sun)
    Sat, 18 May - Fri, 21 Jun
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • DASH
    Permanent Exhibition
    Sun, 19 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • Tea Dancers
    24 Apr to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Mon, 20 May - Fri, 31 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Photographs of old cinemas and dance halls
  • HomeMade
    15 May to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Sat, 25 May - Sat, 28 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • Head On
    Permanent exhibition
    Tue, 28 May
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Use your mobile phone to become part of an interactive piece of art!
  • Photographs of The Public
    Online exhibition
    Sat, 1 Jun - Sun, 1 Dec
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • Martin Parr - The Public collection
    Permanent Collection
    Sun, 2 Jun
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    Six large format Martin Parr prints, part of The Public's permanent collection.
  • Bandwidth
    Permanent exhibition
    Sun, 2 Jun
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
    A new installation by American artist Josh Nimoy
  • Transmission 13
    5 June to 14 July (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 5 Jun - Sun, 14 Jul
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • George Salter Academy
    29 June to 2 July (Wed - Sun)
    Sat, 29 Jun - Tue, 2 Jul
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
  • Mosaic
    4 to 29 Sept (Wed - Sun)
    Wed, 4 Sep - Sun, 29 Sep
    10.00am - 5.00pm
    Free
 

Ordinary / Extra / Ordinary
Curated by David Thorp

15 May to 29 September 2013

Ordinary / Extra / Ordinary has its origins in the idea that The Public is a place where visitors can encounter contemporary art that is accessible and which resonates with the familiar but extends and challenges perception at the same time. Rather than preaching about the value of art it celebrates the vitality, diversity and humour that art can embody.

The artists exhibiting have taken their inspiration from the grass roots of culture, from their own experiences in early life, folk and street art, politics and urban decay. Between them they ask questions about the globalisation of culture and the alienating effects of modern life which in different ways they counter by showing how creativity affirms the power of the individual.

Artists featured in the exhibition include; Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane, Tracey Emin, Hew Locke, Vivan Sundaram, David Shrigley, Doug Fishbone and Lucy McLauchlan.