Secret Postcard Show 2021
THE SECRET POSTCARD SHOW 2021 opens 27th August 6pm - 8.30pm - all welcome - no booking required. We prefer that you wear masks whilst in the gallery and use the hand sanitiser provided.
The exhibition will then go live via Instagram from as close to 8.30pm as possible - work will be available to purchase.
Exhibiting artists will be announced via our website once the show has opened.
Purchasing work online via instagram:
There will be several opportunities throughout the exhibition to purchase the postcards within the show via our Instagram profile - you can follow us on Instagram by simply searching for The Old Lock Up Gallery or click on the camera icon at the foot of this web page and follow us.
The main highlight will be during the opening night of the show - when available work will be shared via our instagram feed.
You’ll be invited to comment on the image/post. within our Instagram feed, if you wish to purchase the postcard/s in the photograph. You’ll then be given a code for the postcard that you’re purchasing and asked to click on the link in our Instagram profile - which will direct you to our website - where you’ll be able to pay and leave your name/address details plus the code for your postcard!
These opportunities to purchase online will continue throughout the show and will be announced via Instagram.
Further info:
Since the opening of the gallery in 2017 The Old Lock Up Gallery has hosted it’s highly successful Secret Postcard Show. The exhibition is now in it’s 5th year and we have received just under 600 postcards donated by over 180 artists.
We’re often asked why is it called The Secret Postcard Show - it’s quite simple - you don’t know who has created the postcard or the material/medium used until after you have purchased the work: all this information is on the reverse of the postcard and no one is allowed to turn them over until they’ve been purchased. This creates an exhibition where all artists are equal - regardless of their education, training or status - within the world of the arts - which can sometimes be experienced as elitist.
All profits made from the sale of the postcards go directly towards the gallery and Arts Emergency. Postcards are sold at £15 each. We aim, as time goes by, to increase the amount donated to ‘Arts Emergency’ as the gallery becomes increasingly successful and financially viable.
The exhibition works on so many levels and provides an opportunity for all involved.
- Artists to show their work in a contemporary art gallery, and to know that they are supporting the future of the gallery. It also enables the artist to make a connection with us, several artists who have previously participated in the postcard show have gone on to exhibit at the gallery.
- Art collectors - a show where the work is affordable and accessible to all - regardless of who the piece of work was created by, A previous year a young boy had saved his pocket money to purchase a piece of work - much to the bemusement of his parents. A future art collector? Who knows?
- Arts Emergency - a percentage of the profit made from the show is donated, every year, to this charity - which supports talented, and disadvantaged, creatives and artists via mentoring to access education and employment within the arts sector.
- The Old Lock Up Gallery - the support that we receive from the artists and postcard collectors, during the show, enables us to continue to develop the gallery and remain open. We are a small independent contemporary art gallery in a rural setting, developing a successful art gallery, single handedly takes time.