This weekend (Nov. 30), the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) will officially launch the inaugural Junior Bermuda Biennial, a groundbreaking extension of its flagship Bermuda Biennial, which has been a cornerstone of Bermuda’s contemporary art scene for over 30 years.
This new initiative provides an internationally juried platform for young artists aged 5-17, showcasing their creativity and giving them the opportunity to be part of a national exhibition of the highest caliber.
On hand tomorrow to support BNG and the young artists will be the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert JP, MP.
Minister Furbert said, “I am pleased to join with parents, young ones and our community to support BNG’s 2024 Junior Bermuda Biennial. I understand that their call for submissions received an overwhelming response, with over 600 pieces from young talents across the island. Of these, 83 exceptional expressions of art have been selected for exhibition, marking a major milestone in nurturing Bermuda’s next generation of creatives. The exhibition formally opens on Dec. 3 to the public, and I encourage as many people as possible to visit the exhibition and celebrate the future of Bermuda’s artistic community.”
Jennifer L. Phillips, Executive Director of BNG, added, “We are thrilled to present the 2024 Junior Bermuda Biennial, a vibrant new chapter for the Bermuda National Gallery. Underscoring BNG’s commitment to developing the next generation of local artists, the exhibition provides our island’s children aged 5-17 with an internationally juried, national platform for artistic expression, and will become a core part of BNG’s Biennial programming going forward. It is our hope that the Junior Biennial will inspire creativity, and form a stepping stone to future success.”
The exhibition has been juried by Molly Bretton, Head of Learning at the Royal Academy in London, who will be in Bermuda for the opening. Reflecting the professional standards of the main Biennial, the selected artworks will be presented with full curatorial care, including framing, artist statements, and a professionally designed catalogue.
As part of the event, Molly Bretton will host a special talk on Monday, December 2, at the Bermuda National Gallery, providing unique insights into fostering creativity in young minds. The talk will be free of charge for all educators. Members of the public can purchase tickets here: https://bng.bm/molly-bretton-talk/
As noted by the Minister, the Junior Bermuda Biennial opens to the public on Tuesday, December 3, and runs through March 2025. Admission to the Gallery is free for 2024, made possible by the Christian Humann Foundation. For more information, visit www.bng.bm.
This inaugural event is generously sponsored by Gary L. Phillips, in loving memory of the late Patricia Ann Phillips, a passionate educator and advocate for the transformative power of art in learning.