Castle Showcase for Local Artists

The museum opened to the public last year after a two-year refurbishment featuring a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archive, café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities and education suite.

The exhibition space, called the Steward's Gallery, houses three arts, heritage and history exhibitions a year, including the Ribble Valley Open, featuring the work of amateur, professional or student visual artists living or working in Ribble Valley.

This year's exhibition, from October 23 to January 9 2011, is being organised by the Ribble Valley Arts Alliance, a public and private sector partnership coordinated by Ribble Valley Borough Council and the Ribble Valley Strategic Partnership aimed at promoting arts in Ribble Valley, and the Lancashire Museums Service.

Artists are invited to submit any type of fine art, including two or three-dimensional pieces and pieces up to 1.8m in height, for consideration in the exhibition.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's arts development officer, Mark Mason, said: "Last year's Ribble Valley Open was a great success, so the exhibition will now become an annual event.

"The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for local artists, amateur or professional, to exhibit their work at a prestigious venue that attracts hundreds of visitors a week.

"We know there is a rich artistic heritage in Ribble Valley and some fantastically talented artists, so we are looking forward to a superb exhibition."

Artists are asked to submit an application form, up to six images of up to three pieces of work and a 150-word statement to the Platform Gallery in Station Road, Clitheroe, by Friday, September 10.

Application packs and detailed entry criteria are available from Mark Mason on 01200 443071 (arts.development@ribblevalley.gov.uk).