Rugby Open 18 winners revealed at a Festive Evening

Nearly 120 works by contemporary artists from across the West Midlands have gone on display at the Rugby Open 18 exhibition.

Judges cast expert eyes over more than 400 entries, including works submitted for the inaugural Rugby Youth Open, which gave 14 to 17-year-old artists the opportunity to take part in the exhibition.

The judging panel comprised artist and curator Marlene Smith, Ryan Hughes, founder and director of the Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art, Paul Torr, president of Rugby and District Arts Society, and borough councillor, Sue Roodhouse.

The Rugby Open 18 prize winners will be revealed on Friday 7 December at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum's annual Festive Evening.

The event, which runs from 5.30pm to 8pm, features arts and crafts activities, Christmas carols, refreshments and the chance to buy unique Christmas gifts from the Rugby Visitor Centre shop.

The Open award ceremony takes place at 7pm, with the overall winner walking away with £1,000 and the chance to host a solo exhibition at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum's Floor One Gallery next year.

Other prizes set to be presented at the ceremony have been donated by Houlton Rugby, Rugby and District Arts Society, Picture Perfect, Typestart and Thrapston's Primrose Gallery.

Cllr Sebastian Lowe, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth and investment, said: "For the first time, this year's Rugby Open welcomed entries from across the West Midlands and the judges had a bumper crop of submissions to consider before selecting the works for the exhibition.

"The standard of entries was extremely high across the board and the judges were particularly impressed with the standard of works submitted for the Youth Open.

"We're now looking forward to revealing the winners of the Open at the Festive Evening."

The Rugby Open 18 exhibition runs until Saturday 12 January.

For more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, visit www.ragm.co.uk