RTÉ One
RTÉ launches search for Ireland’s best amateur painter in Painting the Nation
The search is on for Ireland’s best amateur painter as RTÉ One launches Painting the Nation, a brand new show travelling the country to uncover and celebrate the nation’s unheralded artists.
Are you a talented amateur artist with a passion for painting? Do you love your oils, watercolours, pastels and acrylics and would like to showcase your painting talents to the nation? RTÉ is looking for Ireland’s best amateur painters to take part in this exciting new series that gives aspiring artists a real opportunity to make their mark.
Produced by Independent Pictures for RTÉ and presented by Pauline McLynn, Painting the Nation is a competition to uncover and showcase the best amateur painting talent across the island of Ireland. If painting is your passion and you think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you.
The winning artist will not only have the honour of being declared Ireland’s best amateur painter, their work will become a permanent piece of public art.
Pauline McLynn, who holds a BA in History of Art as well as being an award-winning actress, said: “I am really excited to be involved in Painting The Nation. We are looking for passion mixed with real talent, and I would encourage amateur painters out there who think they have what it takes to apply to be part of the show.”
Painting The Nation is open to a mix of painters: maybe you went to art college but ended up in another career; maybe you sell a painting or two but it’s not your main source of income; or maybe you just love to paint.
We are looking for seven talented amateur painters to compete for the inaugural Painting the Nation crown. Each week, the artists will travel to a new location where they will take on painting challenges around iconic local history, culture, heritage and people. Our professional judges will set drawing and painting challenges which will push the artists to their creative limits. Their work will then be exhibited at a weekly roving pop-up gallery – open to the local community – and the judges will decide who will make it to the next stage.
RTÉ Executive Producer – Arts Sarah Ryder said: “Following on from the success of Brent Pope’s Inside Out last year, it is clear that there is a real appetite for programming that reflects the sheer depth and breadth of artistic endeavour happening all across this island. RTÉ’s Painting the Nation aims to reveal the rich seam of amateur painters working quietly and without fanfare across the country. In every town and village, there are talented and passionate amateur artists who are producing beautiful work that deserves a national stage. This is their time to shine.”
Application forms are available now at: www.rte.ie/audiences. All artists involved must be over-18 (by June 1st 2016).
Amateur artists requiring further information or who need an application form sent to them can contact Andrew Mills on 01-7088135 or Ciara Kerrigan on 01-7088184, or email: paintingthenation@indiepics.ie
For further information on the show contact: Gareth Naughton, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, T: 01-2082667: E: gareth.naughton@rte.ie
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