Grayson Perry's Art Club (Series 2) back in February

Just what we need. Grayson to the rescue with more lockdown art! Series 2 of Grayson Perry's Art Club is back on Channel 4 in February 2021.

"Grayson Perry, one of Britain's leading artists, brings the nation together through art, making new works and hosting masterclasses set to unleash our collective creativity during lockdown" Channel 4

This time there's been a bit more planning! This post is about

• the themes for Series 2 of Art Club
• how to enter

These are my blog posts about his extremely successful and very popular first series which started at the end of April during the first lockdown in 2020. 

• Grayson's Art Club : The Exhibition (and the television programme and the book of the exhibition!) 
• Grayson Perry Returns - on TV, at the British Museum and with a new exhibition! (September 2020)  - in which I announce details of the exhibition and the second series
• Grayson Perry's Studio (May 2020) - all about his studio which started in Walthamstow before moving to Islington
• Art On Demand during the Pandemic #1 - British TV (May 2020) - the contenders
• Grayson Perry's Art Club on Channel 4 (April 2020) - kicking off the first series

Grayson’s Art Club was the best performing series from Channel 4’s #StayAtHome Academy programming

Grayson/Claire and Philippa Perry - with exhibits in the Series 1 exhibition

Themes for Grayson Perry's Art Club - Series 2

“Art is good for you, whoever you are" 

Grayson Perry

Below is a video by Grayson and his co-star/wife, psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry telling you about the themes.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!#GraysonsArtClub returns in February!
Website https://t.co/ZbGqOynYwA is open for your submissions.
Here is @Philippa_Perry and me telling you the weekly themes.
We are so looking forward to seein what you have made. pic.twitter.com/mRFLTq3wnW

— Grayson Perry (@Alan_Measles) January 8, 2021

The themes - with deadlines for entries are as follows.
Note that when it says "end of (date)" it means 11.59pm or 23.59 on that date.

• FAMILY submissions close end of 10th February 2021
• NATURE submissions close end of 17th February 2021
• FOOD submissions close end of 24th February 2021
• DREAMS submissions close end of 3rd March 2021
• WORK submissions close end of 10th March 2021
• TRAVEL submissions close end of 17th March 2021

How to submit your artwork entry

Grayson Perry will send out messages via social media asking for members of the public to participate in the Series by uploading a 3-minute video message of themselves (the “Video”) filmed on their mobile phone together with three photos of their artwork (the “Artwork”). We will then select the Artworks and Videos he wants to consider for inclusion in the Series. If your Video or Artwork is selected one of the producers may then call you to discuss potentially appearing in the Series as a Contributor via video call on your device (the “Contributor”). If you are selected to be included they will send you a separate contract for your appearance.
Swan Films - the makers of the programme

The main difference with Series 2 is you're getting a LOT MORE NOTICE about the Themes of the six programmes in the series.

Who can enter

• You must be a resident of the UK.
• There's no limit on age BUT If you are under 18 you will need a parent/guardian to submit your artwork on your behalf, and hey must provide their phone number and email address.

What can you enter

We will accept any type of art including paintings, sculpture, drawings and collages, from amateurs and professionals alike.

How to enter

You can enter ONE artwork for EACH theme. Enter them one at a time (i.e. you can only choose the theme once per form)

You should submit 

• up to three photos of the artwork you are submitting for the theme (don't forget to choose the theme!)
• a video (max. 3 minutes long) of yourself talking about your art.

It's not clear if you must make a video or can just write up to 600 words about your art on the form.

Make sure that 

• your photos and video are in landscape format and NOT PORTRAIT FORMAT
• you label ALL your photos and video with your name and name of the artwork. (e.g. Philippa Perry sculpture of a cat #1 (and #2 and #3 and video)

Here's a little memory jogger re. landscape and portrait formats. It's not about whether it's a landscape or portrait - it about whether the picture is biased towards horizontal or vertical.

An image from my book Sketching 365 - about landscape and portrait formats
(and placement of horizons and crops)

What's the competition going to be like?

You need to be realistic. Millions watched the first series and c.10,000 people submitted their artwork - which means not a lot of time to view your entry. However Grayson's an expert in reviewing artwork given he chaired the Panel of Selectors for the 250th Summer Exhibition by the Royal Academy of Arts and had to sit through thousands and thousands of entries over quite a few days!