Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) has announced details of this year’s Platform exhibition, the festival’s annual showcase supporting artists in the early stages of their careers to make and present new work.
Selected from an open call by artist Ruth Ewan and curator Sophia Hao of Cooper Gallery and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, four artists based in Scotland – Rabindranath A Bhose, Mark Bleakley, Rhona Jack and Susannah Stark – have been supported to create new work which will be presented in a group show.
Despite the challenges faced across the cultural sector, EAF is pleased to continue to support artists during this difficult time by presenting the delayed 2020 edition of the Platform series, which usually forms a key element of each EAF programme, showcasing new work for four artists in the early stages of their careers.
Each of the artists has been working over recent months to develop new work for their presentation in Platform: 2020. The exhibition brings together four new bodies of work that include sound installations, textile and sculptural works, print-making, film, performance, and text-based works. Across each of the artists’ individual practice, a number of themes and approaches are particularly resonant for our present times.
Edinburgh Art Festival Director, Sorcha Carey said “During what has been an exceptionally challenging time for cultural organisations across the country, and for individual artists and freelance workers in particular, we are so pleased to be able to support 4 artists based in Scotland to make and present new work. We look forward to sharing an exciting next generation of artists with audiences – and as artists and colleagues across the visual art sector continue to face considerable uncertainty, we encourage anyone who feels passionate about art and its importance to our society, to do what they can to support artists and galleries in their local community.”
Platform: 2020 is made possible thanks to the PLACE Programme, a partnership between Edinburgh Festivals, Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and Creative Scotland, with additional support from the Cruden Foundation. In keeping with Government advice in order to protect and maintain the safety of visitors and staff, the City Art Centre has introduced a range of new safety measures and procedures throughout the venue, including a one way system, installation of screens at reception, hand sanitiser stations, extra barriers and signage and staff will be wearing face coverings while offering visitors a socially distanced welcome.
Visitors are asked to wear face coverings and to pre-book free tickets for allocated time slots in advance via the Edinburgh museums website.
Platform: 2020, that comes in partnership with the City Art Centre, will run from 31st October to 29th November.
Edinburgh Art Festival returns next year from 29 Jul to 29 Aug 2021.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 