Spectacular arts showstopper at Harborough school later this month

They’ll be turning up to listen to two of the most gifted and explosive young lecturers in British arts speak at Robert Smyth Academy.

The school has got together with The Arts Society Harborough to stage the dynamic, innovative and much-anticipated event on Thursday February 27.

Alison Hamlyn, the society’s young arts co-ordinator, said: “We are all very excited about putting this on at Robert Smyth – it really is going to be something extra special.”

She said the first speaker will be young London-based superstar artist Ant Hamlyn, from Moulton, Northants.

“I can’t stop waxing lyrical about Ant or singing his praises – and not just because he happens to be my nephew!

“Ant’s only 26 and he’s already stacked up an amazing CV.

“He’s a brilliant conceptual artist with installations across the world,” said Alison, from Naseby.

“He has won several National prizes, exhibited in the Victoria & Albert Museum and teaches at Chelsea art college.

“Ant will be talking about how one thing leads to another.

“He’ll be telling students and young people they’ve got to keep knocking on doors, get their names out there and never give up.”

Ant will be followed by questions from the floor in the main hall and a brief cuppa before Doug Gillen strides on to the stage.

“He’s a fire and brimstone Scot who shoots straight from the lip.

“He’s got his own production company called Fifthwalltv.

“Doug’s a fabulous speaker, often exploring art with a social conscious,” said Alison.

“He’s controversial, always speaks his mind and so we should be in for fireworks.

“His lecture is called ‘Hidden Canvases - Street Art and the City’.

“I’m confident that both Ant and Doug will inspire and fire up students and anyone else keen to go in to the arts and make a name for themselves.

“They’ll open up pupils’ minds and expose them to ways of thinking and new fascinating insights not usually encountered here in Market Harborough.”

You can turn up at the door and go in for free if you are under 18 or in full-time education.

Otherwise it will cost you just £10 to enjoy this non-profit making extravaganza.

The fun kicks off at 5pm and should be all over by 7.30pm.

“We’ve specifically timed this between students’ mocks and their final A-Level and GCSE exams.

“We want to motivate and inspire young people thinking of a career in the arts or media,” said Alison.

“It’s also a fantastic chance for local Art Society members and young people to mix with other generations in the community through art.

“We’ve invited students from secondary schools throughout the Harborough area and are expecting 150-200 people to show up.

“We also have teachers and pupils travelling from across the Midlands to attend.

“This is our first venture of this kind.

“Daniel Page, the head of art at Robert Smyth, has been very enthusiastic and supportive in pushing it forward so we’d like to thank him too.”