Enter your artwork in the Pound Arts Open Exhibition 2011 to be in with a chance to win £500!

For the fourth year running the Pound Arts Open Exhibition invites local artists to submit their work to compete for the first prize of £500 – double the amount of previous years.

In 2010 over 70 local artists submitted 150 items of artwork which made choosing the 60 pieces of work to be included in the exhibition a real challenge.

Artists selected will be competing for a £500 First Prize as well as the Goldfish Bowl Gallery & Right Angle Framing Prize of £250 and the Corsham Print Prize of 1000 colour postcards. The winners of these prizes will be chosen by the selection panel.

The People's Prize of £150 is chosen on the basis of votes cast by visitors to the exhibition, meaning that the decision is entirely in the public's hands. Last year's winner was 'It's a boy!' and was made cleverly out of lego pieces by artist Dominic Smith.

The selection panel for 2011 comprises Diana Hatton, Visual Arts Co-ordinator for The Pound Arts Trust, Stephanie Szakalo, owner of the Goldfish Bowl Gallery and Rick Smith, a Wiltshire based artist and illustrator.

All pieces entered must be original and unaided work. They can be paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, mixed media, textiles, photography or ceramics, but not giclee reproductions. All work entered must be for sale as one of the aims of the Open Exhibition is to enable artists to showcase and sell their work. Last year more pieces were sold than ever before!

"We were delighted with the vast range of work which was submitted last year, with much more 3D artwork than the previous years and are looking forward to showcasing the talents of local artists this year," said Ian Martin, Executive Director of The Pound Arts Trust.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 29 October – Saturday 17 December and if you wish to be one of the first to see the selected artwork, the Open Exhibition Preview will be held on Friday 28 October from 6.30pm – 8pm. You could also be one of the first to put in your vote for The People's Prize!

Throughout the exhibition you can also pick up £1 off hot drinks vouchers for The Pound Café Bar when you visit The Goldfish Bowl Gallery. You'll be able to come and have a look at the exhibition and save some money on a hot beverage!

For more information and to request an application form for the Pound Arts Open 2011 please call 01249 701628 or visit The Pound. The submission date is Friday 21 October from 10am - 6pm.