Alongside the launch of the latest programme and with the New Year beginning it seems an appropriate moment to reflect on the past year and some interesting Burton facts. So I hope you’ll enjoy this insight into the Burton and be inspired to join in an event, sign up for a workshop or visit an exhibition.

Since 2008 when Bideford Tourist Information joined the Burton to provide a combined service we have seen our visitor numbers increase from 100,000 a year to 153,000 visitors in 2010/11.  This year we are on target to beat that number and are expecting to receive 160,000 visitors through the door.

In 2011 we joined forces with Devon County Councils Adult and Community Learning programme and our adult workshops became part of their delivery. Keen to work with the Burton because of the unique range of workshops we offer and our access to artists (local and national) to deliver those workshops, in 2011 we ran a programme of 15 adult workshops with over 120 participants. Income generated by the workshops enables us to offer many of our family activities for free – for example - the 60th anniversary lantern parade celebration.

Our children’s workshops in 2011 attracted 141 participants, encouraged by imaginative titles and activities and lead by Karen Hawkins, local public artist, and Sally Fulcher from Holsworthy Family Workshops. The workshops were supported by the Don’t Stop Me Now scheme (of which we had 7 participants), and were a run away success.

Visits by schools, college and groups have increased dramatically with over 1050 pupils visiting the exhibitions and permanent collections supported by the Learning Development Officer, Julian Vayne (a role funded externally). The importance of this role (or one similar) to attracting school visits has been confirmed through these numbers, as a significant drop in school and group visits had been noted since the restructure. This is one area we will be focusing on in 2012, with our aim to seek additional funding to ensure the learning role is maintained.                                                                            

Our weekly under 5’s art sessions, led predominately by volunteers, has attracted over 600 participants, (under 5’s and parents) and covers its own costs through donations. In addition our events programme, ranging from Murder at the Burton to a Film Screening by Bideford Film Society of Horrid Henry, our Big Draw event, the Lantern Parade and the series of Exhibition Talks and Tours have been attended by over 1550 people.

Since 2008 we have built up a pool of volunteers, with a variety of expertise, skills, age ranges and time to offer, all of whom have given their time and commitment with enthusiasm and passion. In return many of them have felt closer to their local community, learnt more about the arts and heritage and often expanded their own skills base as well as their confidence. In 2011 we’ve clocked up approx 400 volunteer hours the equivalent of £2850.

With regards to income, we’ve increased our retail income through the shop by 85% since 2008 by stocking products that meet our visitors’ demands and compliment the Burton’s unique identity, exhibitions and collections as well as provision for holidaymakers. This year income through donations has been a huge success, with visitors directly showing their support for the service we provide. In less than 9 months donations given by the public at the door has exceeded our expectations’ achieving over £2500. The Friends have increased their annual contribution to the exhibitions programme to £5000 and continue to support the Young Friends scheme and contribute to conservation needs.

Not including the funding connected to the RJ Lloyd Collection, we’ve also increased external funding, receiving just under £18,000 in the last 3 years, which directly funded a number of projects including; Torridge Tales on Tiles; Under 5’s Kids Krate; Children’s Art Day and Family Trail within the museum display, as well as organisational and staff development.

As a discretionary council service, during this time we’ve also decreased our reliance on funding from Torridge District Council, saving £40,000 by merging the tourist information centre and the Burton to create a combined service, and by continuing to examine our actual costs and raise income targets – even in this financial climate. We continue to strive to be value for money and in 2010/11 our net operating costs were £152,000.

Other highlights of 2011 include: The Burton’s 60th anniversary, including 300 people participating in the Lantern parade round Victoria park; launching the Own Art Scheme (an interest free loan of up to £2000 to purchase contemporary art payable in 10 monthly instalments and operated by the Arts Council England); over 280 people attending the opening of Howard Hodgkin’s Prints exhibition, many of whom met Howard himself; and launching the Burton’s Facebook pages – keeping our audiences up to date with our every move. (Don't forget to LIKE us on facebook)

2012 promises to bring even more exciting times. Many of you will notice the new look café, as Café du Parc has had a re-vamp over the Christmas closure, as well as the stylish Craft Gallery with its new lick of paint designed to show off the work to its best ability. Building on the success of the Lantern Parade this year and to coincide with the Olympics we will be attempting to break a world record – for the world’s longest bunting. Wrap the Burton in Bunting will take place on the 21st May celebrating the Olympic Torch coming through Bideford.

So – we look forward to welcoming you to the Burton and wish you a happy 2012.

Image: Arthur A Friedenson, Belstone near Okehampton, Oil on Canvas

Bringing together works from across the permanent collection, this exhibition looks at how artists within the collection have been inspired by landscape. The exhibition brings together a variety of techniques and works from the 1800’s to the present day charting the importance of landscape to the collection at the Burton.

The Artist and The Landscape 1st February 7.30pm £5
Friends Event - All Welcome
Talk and tour of the exhibition, Looking at Landscapes, led by Warren Collum, Exhibitions and Collections Officer.
To book your place contact the Burton.

This exhibition is also an opportunity to showcase several new paintings which have been donated to become part of the Burton's Permanent Collection in 2011.

Works include;
Belstone near Okehampton, Oil on Canvas, Arthur A Friedenson
Noli me Tangere, Watercolour, Leslie Worth
Dawn at the Source of the Torridge, Newlands Moor, Watercolour,  Shelia Hutchinson
Towards Bideford, Watercolour, Shelia Hutchinson
Taddiport, Torrington Devon, Watercolour,  Shelia Hutchinson
The Iron Bridge, Landcross, Bideford, Watercolour, Sheila Hutchinson
Towards Bideford, Watercolour, Hugh Percy Heard
Bridge Pool, Bideford, Watercolour James Paterson
Bideford Bridge, Etching, Frank E Whiting
Bideford Bridge, Etching, C S Hollaway
Morning Haze, Bideford, Mixed Media, Colin Allbrook
Bideford Bridge, Watercolour, Mary Stella Edwards
“Thats Appledore over there”, Watercolour, Hubert Coop
Skern, Watercolour, Sheila Hutchinson
Shipyards, Torridge Estuary, Acrylic, Peter Reid
“Wind westerly, showers developing”,  Watercolour, Jack Palmer
Rocks at Abbotsham 1930, Watercolour, Frank E Whiting
Low Tide, Watercolour, Allin Braund
Bideford Bay in Bideford Black, Bideford Black, Paul Lewin
Bucks Mills Devon, Watercolour, James Paterson
Bucks Mills, Oil on Canvas, A.F.W Hayward
East Kiln and the Cabin from the Shore, Watercolour, Mary Stella Edwards
West Kiln from the Slip, Watercolour, Mary Stella Edwards
North Devon Sea and Landscape, Oil on Canvas, Hugh Percy Heard
Afternoon Above the Village, Watercolour, Judith Ackland
North Devon Coast, Mixed Media, Bertam Prance

Image: Mary Stella Edwards, West Kiln from the Slip, Bucks Mills 1943, watercolour

Join us in celebrating the talents of the young artists from our local community, in one of the largest and most colourful exhibitions of the year. Aged from 5 to 18, all participants attend schools in the local area. Once again NADFAS (National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies) are generously sponsoring four cash prizes to those schools that exhibit the most creative and original artwork.

Image: John by Connor

And why not?
Pick up your Burton Bag of Brilliance to explore exhibitions and displays or come to the screening of Puss in Boots during the February half term. And don’t forget Crafty Kids for Under 5’s every Monday and Young Friends on the last Saturday of every month.

Image: Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Linear Meditation 2, pen and ink, mixed media on paper

After recent significant survey shows Wilhelmina Barns-Graham is considered to be one of the great twentieth century British artists and a key contributor to the St Ives School. Scottish by birth, but based in St Ives for an extensive period of time, her contemporaries were Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Patrick Heron and Terry Frost.  Her primary practice of painting and printmaking was supported throughout her artistic career with drawing, which she called, ‘just drawings’. But this does not describe such a distinct body of graphic work or her diverse and prolific output as a draughtsman. Curated by Mel Gooding, the drawings in this exhibition range from energy drawings inspired by the sea and currents to natural forms, rocks, trees and ice and landscapes.

Talk and Tour: 3rd March 2pm
Free All Welcome
Join Geoffrey Bertram, for an informal talk to gain an insight into the exhibition and The Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.

Image: Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Lanzarote Series BGT619, acrylic on paper

Inspired by the work of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Kathy Badcock, Miriam McCurdy and Tom Hyde are running day long workshops for adults including:Contemporary Mosaics with Kathy Badcock; In Response - Landscapes with Miriam McCurdy and Drawing into Sculpture with Tom Hyde. Click on the title for further information. We've also got a day long childrens workshop on the 13th April 'A Birthday Card for...'.

The publication that accompanies this exhibition will be available to purchase form the Burton during the exhibitions stay. Contact the Information Desk and Shop for further details.

A Discipline of the Mind was curated by Mel Gooding for The Pier Arts Centre in collaboration with The Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.

In 2010, the 2009 Jerwood Drawing Prize came to the Burton for the first time.  The exhibition was so popular we decided to bring it to the South West again in 2012, when we are the penultimate venue of the 2011 prize exhibition tour.

Established in 1996, the Jerwood Drawing Prize is the country’s leading award in drawing, and is the largest and longest running annual open exhibition dedicated to drawing in the UK. Over 2500 entries were submitted this year for consideration by the distinguished panel of judges comprising Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery; Tim Marlow, writer, broadcaster and Director of Exhibitions, White Cube; and Rachel Whiteread, artist.The 60 finalists include established artists as well as relative newcomers and students.

Gary Lawrence was awarded the First Prize of £6,000 for his drawing Homage to Anonymous, Second Prize of £3,000 was awarded to Jessie Brennan, for her 5-metre long pencil drawing, The Cut, and Two Student Awards of £1,000 each went to Nicki Rolls for Sketch and Kristian Fletcher for Lake.

Talk and Tour 8th June 7pm Free
Join Paul Thomas, Co-founder of the Jerwood Drawing Prize, as he discusses the exhibition and some of the thought processes behind the judges selections. This event is part of the Appledore Visual Arts Festival 2012.