The Harris has announced the return of The Harris Open for next year.

Delayed by several months due to Covid-19, the popular exhibition featuring local artistic talent will now open in February 2021 with a special exhibition launch on Thursday 4 February.

The Harris Open is a quirky and original exhibition, popular with artists and visitors and regularly attracts hundreds of entries ranging from photography to sculpture, ceramics to textiles, digital to painting, showcasing the very best from local artists of all ages, backgrounds and experience.

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Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Preston City Council, said: “We are delighted to see the annual Harris Open return once more in 2021 for everyone to enjoy. We have seen people be even more creative this year, engaging with us online when the Harris is closed during lockdown, and continuing to do so.

“We hope to see even more entries for the 2021 Harris Open and strongly encourage new artists and those of all abilities and backgrounds to enter their work to go on display in the gallery spaces for all the visiting public to see.”

People will be able to submit their work digitally 24 hours a day, entries are £3 with under submissions free and there are two prizes awarded in each category.

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Submissions are open now and will be open until midnight on Wednesday 6 January. The handing in of work will take place between Wednesday 13 January and Tuesday 19 January 2021.

Booking will be essential to meet Covid-19 safety measures.

There will be a special free online event on Thursday 4 February which will give the chance to see work before the official launch.

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The official launch is on Friday 5 February, where the prize winners will be announced.

Visitors can pick up a free Harris Open catalogue from the galleries or download it from the Harris website. Enter here.

Read more:Latest news and updates from Blog Preston.

Are you excited about The Harris Open returning? Let us know in the comments below