Museum of You: Be Kind

Have you always wanted to show your artwork at The Beaney? Or do you have an interesting object at home that you would like to share a story about?

We believe that in these extraordinary times, the stories of ordinary people are more important than ever. Which is why we are inviting you to help us co-create an exhibition for our Front Room Gallery. The Beaney is currently closed but we look forward to welcoming visitors back with an exhibition that will celebrate the creativity, stories and experiences of some of the most interesting people in the county – you!

Every fortnight we will be releasing a new theme to inspire you and give you ideas for your art work. We welcome any creative response to the theme and invite you to be as imaginative as possible, using any medium – paintings, drawings, photographs, textiles, prints, mixed media and written.

Everyone has an interesting story to tell and submissions are open to everyone, of all ages, whether you are an established artist or getting creative for the first time. We welcome submissions from individuals as well as community groups, from new creatives and the continuously curious, to domestic Picassos and everyone in between.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

– Aesop

Being kind to others is a quick and easy way to boost your own mood and reduce anxiety, not just for others, but for yourself too. Research shows that being kind to others increases feelings of satisfaction and wellbeing. Focusing on doing good for others can give us time away from the things that make us stressed or worried.

Kindness is also known as a heart protector, as studies have shown that being kind can reduce blood pressure. The wonderful thing about kindness is that it comes back around to you. One person’s kind actions can have a ripple effect on people around them, which makes our community a kinder and nicer place to live.

We are teaming up with People United for this theme. People United use arts and creativity to promote kindness and empathy. Their latest project ‘Kind Canterbury’ is all about celebrating the people and communities that are showing kindness during this challenging time. They are asking for stories and art work about your experience of kindness, which will be used to create a new artwork by Nova Marshall. You can find out more and contribute to ‘Kind Canterbury’ here.

Share your stories and artwork with us on social media by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using the hashtag #MuseumOfYou.

You can also submit your work on People United’s website, or email them directly to [email protected].

In your submission please include:

A photo or scan of your artwork
The title of your artwork
A description of your work. This could include a description of how the work relates to the theme, how you felt while you were making it and what was happening while you were making it. (Word limit – 100 words)
Your name
A contact email or phone number
Submissions must be received by Midday on Friday 1st May 2020.

Artists are invited to submit work for one, some or all of the themes.
Artwork can be in any medium including painting, drawing, print, photography, textiles or written.
Due to gallery restrictions we are unable to accept video submissions.
The maximum size we can accept for submissions is A2 (42 x 60cm).
Dates of exhibition to be confirmed.
Artists are responsible for dropping off and picking up artwork from The Beaney. Dates TBC.

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