News

Norwich's medieval churches showcased in free public exhibition

Friday, 19th February 2010

A free photography exhibition showcasing the city's medieval churches will be at The Forum from Saturday 20^th February to Friday 5^th March. It is the first chance to see all 33 winning and shortlisted photographs from last year's photography competition run by Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART).

The competition was launched to celebrate the city's outstanding collection of medieval churches and showcase inspiring photographic talent. The photographs are creative, personal and thought-provoking images which capture both the magnificent architecture and historical legacy of the churches as well as their vibrant role in today's society.

There will be an information stand at the exhibition with leaflets about what you can to do at the churches and about local history, to interest people inspired by the exhibition.

The exhibition will also be supported by a programme of content about the medieval churches at The Forum's digital gallery Fusion from 1^st to 13^th March. This will be accompanied by a series of free lunchtime talks about the city's churches, also in Fusion, from 1^st to 5^th March at 12.30 to 1.30pm:

Monday 1^st March: Norwich: A city of churches, by Nicholas Groves

Tuesday 2^nd March: Hungate Medieval Art and St Peter Hungate Church, by Dale Copley

Wednesday 3^rd March: Glimpses of Heaven: Church art and architecture in trust, by Derek Palgrave

Thursday 4^th March: Anchorholds and the city churches in late medieval Norwich, by Dr Carole Hill

Friday 5^th March: The earliest churches in Norwich, by Sophie Cabot

The exhibition is free of charge and open all day in the Atrium in The Forum on Millennium Plain, Norwich.

For more information please visit www.heritagecity.org or call 01603 305575.

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Notes to editors

For more information please contact Christina Lister, Communications Manager at Norwich HEART on 01603 599570 or email christinalister@heritagecity.org

Competition winner Julia Cameron is happy to be photographed and interviewed.

If you would like to attend the launch event for the exhibition on Monday, 22^nd February (6-7pm) in The Forum, please contact Christina Lister.

About the competition

Norwich has more standing medieval churches - 32 - than any city north of the Alps and they still play a central role in city life in many ways. The competition explored themes that relate to the past and present uses of churches and the place they have in today's society. The categories were:

• History and tradition
• People and community
• Inspiration and learning
• Restoration and conservation
• Worship and contemplation
• Art and architecture
• Enjoyment and fun
• Innovation and change

157 entries were received and the best photograph from each category was selected as a category winner, and of these an overall winner was chosen.

The competition ran from 1 September to 31 October 2009, following the success of the Norwich 12 photography competition HEART ran in 2008. The judging panel comprised Ricky-Joe Burrage, a contemporary Norwich-based photographer, Andrew Johnson, art director at East Publishing and Michael Loveday, chief executive at Norwich HEART.

About Norwich HEART

Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) is a private, charitable trust set up to act as an umbrella organisation for all of the heritage on offer in Norwich and to be a best practice exemplar internationally for heritage as a social and economic regeneration vehicle.

www.heritagecity.org