Comment | 'Exhibition shines light on this area's creativity'

Here in North Staffordshire, creativity is woven into our history, our industries, and the everyday life of our communities. From the potbanks to the painters, from storytellers in pubs to musicians in community halls, the Potteries has never been short of people expressing who we are and what this region means. Art is not separate from daily life here; it helps us understand ourselves, navigate change, and imagine the future.

That is why this spring marks a particularly special moment: the launch of the 30th anniversary of the Three Counties Open Art Exhibition, a partnership between Keele University and creative communities across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire. Alongside this milestone, we open the call for entries for the 2026 exhibition, inviting artists to share their work and be part of this long‑standing regional platform.

For three decades, the Three Counties Open has offered artists, from beginners to those well‑established in their practice, the chance to be seen and valued. Thousands of people have taken part since it began. Some have gone on to build sustained creative careers; others have discovered the confidence that comes from having their work publicly recognised. Every submission, selected or not, is an act of creative courage.

What has always set the exhibition apart is its democratic spirit. Anyone can enter. Anyone can be selected. The show is not about who you know or whether you have been to art school; it is about ideas, skill and the remarkable variety of creativity across our region. Over the years, I have met artists working full‑time in schools and hospitals, emerging students from local colleges, people returning to creativity later in life, and young artists exhibiting for the first time. All are welcome, and all bring something distinctive.

While the exhibition celebrates individual voices, it also tells a wider story about place. It shows what this part of the country is capable of. For Stoke‑on‑Trent especially, having a platform that showcases local creativity on a regional stage is powerful. It challenges tired assumptions and reveals the depth of talent and imagination that continue to thrive here.

Culture plays a vital role in the life of any city, but for Stoke‑on‑Trent it is fundamental. Creative activity connects people, builds pride across communities, and attracts visitors drawn to our landscape, character and ideas. Cultural projects also create economic opportunity, helping artists build networks, develop skills and find paid work. Many Three Counties Open participants have gone on to sell works, secure commissions or form new collaborations through the exhibition.

In 2026, alongside the anniversary, we are excited to introduce a new award for emerging artists, created in tribute to the much‑loved local educator and artist George Mallalieu, whose influence shaped generations across the region through his teaching and creative practice. Alongside these, there are many other awards and opportunities, meaning that artists of all backgrounds and styles have the chance to be recognised.

Whether you work in painting, photography, textiles, ceramics, digital media or something wonderfully unclassifiable, we want to see your work. Entry is free, submissions close on 25 May, and we encourage artists from all backgrounds and experience levels to take part.

And if you are not planning to submit this year, I would still urge you to visit the exhibition when it opens later in the summer. Come and see neighbours, colleagues, friends and strangers reflected through hundreds of artistic voices.

Thirty years on, the Three Counties Open continues to prove what many of us already know: there is extraordinary talent in ordinary places. Supporting local artists strengthens our cultural landscape and ensures it continues to grow.

The Three Counties Open Art 2026 is taking place between 8th August and 29th August 2026, at The Ballroom, Fenton Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. More information can be found at www.keele.ac.uk/about/artskeele/threecountiesopenart2026 or on social media @artskeele   

The exhibition is organised by Keele University in partnership with ACAVA Spode Works, Appetite, Burslem School of Art Trust, Barewall Gallery, PiCL (Partners in Creative Learning), and Restoke.