Express & Star

Artists and photographers to capture 'spirit of the region' for Black Country Festival competition

Artists and photographers are being asked to capture the spirit of the region as part of the Black Country Festival.

Published
CJ Homer performing at the Black Country Festival fun day in Brierley Hill

A series of events and activities were due to take place in July for the festival, but the coronavirus pandemic has meant the annual event has had to run differently.

The festival runs throughout July and every year people mark July 14 as Black Country Day.

This year the Mayor of Dudley is asking the borough’s creative public to produce the picture or photograph that best captures the spirit of the Black Country.

The winning entry will be framed and will hang in pride of place in the Mayor’s parlour later this year.

Councillor David Stanley, Mayor of Dudley, said: "These are very strange times where normal life is very restricted while we all work together to keep the borough safe.

"But, as the historic capital of the Black Country, it is still really important that we mark such an important event as the Black Country Festival.

"We are very fortunate to have some really talented and creative people in the borough and it would be great if they could help us, not only celebrate the rich heritage, cultures and spirit of the Black Country, but also recognise this historic period in our lives.

"We’re looking for paintings, drawings, pictures or photographs that capture the spirit of the Black Country in some way. We are famous for our humour, history, culture and diversity as well as our innovation and hard graft which makes the borough what it is today. It would be fantastic if we could capture some of this for the future."

There is no criteria for entries but they must be submitted and available for display in the Council House.

People are being asked to submit their entries on social media via #BCFestivalOnline and the Mayor will choose the winning design to hang in the parlour. Entries can also be emailed to capa.events@dudley.gov.uk Entries need to be in by August 14.

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