Artist's work explores Leicestershire’s past

A free temporary exhibition exploring the work of John Flower, one of Leicestershire's greatest 19th century illustrators is currently on display at Melton Carnegie Museum.

John Flower worked during the nineteenth century and produced a wonderful array of watercolours and sketches, and was chiefly known for his architectural drawings, many of which were of buildings in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Born in Leicester in 1793 John Flower was apprenticed to a framework knitter in 1806, his interest in drawing and natural talent led him to give drawing lessons before he was twenty years old. He gained the famous Leicester embroidery artist Miss Mary Linwood as a patron and spent a year in London studying with the watercolour artist Peter de Want. He returned to Leicester working as a landscape artist and teacher of drawing.

In 1826 he published a volume of lithographs 'Views of Ancient Buildings in the Town and County of Leicester'. This new exhibition on Flower's life and work is entitled 'A Self-Taught Genius' and is on display at the museum until the end of December.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities said:

"John Flower's beautiful illustrations are an inspiration to all those who see them and this exhibition showcases his extraordinary skill and his contribution to the history of Leicestershire. I would urge people to go along to the museum and take a look at the wonderful pieces on display."

The museum is also hosting a range of events and activities for visitors throughout October including:

• Wacky Wellies on Thursday 20th October, 10.15am, 11.30am and 2pm
It’s the season for jumping in muddy puddles so join the museum for this wacky welly workshop. (Free Event - pre-booking is required, all children must be accompanied Tel 0116 3053860)

• Myths and Beasties - Family Learning Sessions every Saturday throughout October for craft based workshops from 10 am-12.
(Free event pre -booking is required. Suitable for children aged 4+ who must be accompanied Tel 0116 3057806.)

For further information about the exhibition or any of the events above, please call: 0116 305 3860, email meltonmuseum@leics.gov.uk or see: www.leics.gov.uk/meltonmuseum.

Professional entertainment in our village halls

Thanks to Centre Stage, a subsidised rural touring scheme for Leicestershire and Rutland, we can now enjoy a wide variety of highly professional live shows and concerts in our local village halls and community centres.

Centre Stage brings touring companies and artists with regional, national and international profiles to venues across the two counties. The scheme was set up in 2002 and works with volunteers in communities to present high quality professional arts performances to rural audiences.  In 2009/10 it held 136 shows involving 61 groups of volunteers and a total audience of 8,500 across 61 communities in the region.

Centre Stage is funded by Leicestershire County Council, all district and borough councils in Leicestershire, Rutland County Council and the Arts Council England.

For more about Centre Stage and to find out what's on in a village hall near you, go to: http://www.centre-stage.org.uk/

'Looking at Landscape' in the rural Midlands

Landscape painting inspired by the gentle rolling hills of the rural English Midlands is the focus of an exhibition at Charnwood Museum which runs until 10 April.

'Looking at Landscape' reflects the way that people have looked at, interpreted, recorded and used the Leicestershire landscape throughout history - in both artistic and scientific ways.

Click here for more information and pictures

Artworks to be commissioned by Leicester City Council

News has just come to us that Leicester City Council is commissioning 10 new artworks by artists from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for display in the windows of empty shops in the city this summer.

The theme is 'Leicester', but beyond that the brief is open for artists, designers and others to create an image for display suitable in the public realm. The work can include visuals and/or text.

Leicester City Council's Arts and Museums Service, city centre director and Creative Leicestershire have joined forces for the scheme, which has won funding from the Arts Council England and the Department for Communities and Local Government's Empty Shops Revival Plan.

Artists who want to take part should submit their application for selection by 21 April. The chosen works will be installed in the city centre shops during June.

For further information on the commissioning brief go to http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/lc/arts-services/participatory-arts/vinyls-artists-commission/