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The thirteenth North Ayrshire Open Art Exhibition will be organised by a committee of volunteers consisting of professional and amateur artists, formed in the year 2001 following the demise of North Ayrshire Arts Council who organised the first five exhibitions. The committee have all been involved in the previous exhibitions and will continue to build on the clear successes and developments achieved in the exhibition’s 12-year history, and ensure that this event continues to be an established national exhibition.

The first exhibition was only open to North Ayrshire artists and had no prizes or sponsorship apart from North Ayrshire Council. The Major sponsor for the next five years was BNFL at Hunterston A. This sponsorship of £1750 allowed for three prize awards of £1000, £500, and £250. These three prize awards ensured high quality submissions and enabled the exhibition to stay in a position of national prominence. The first year of sponsorship by BNFL was then followed by a successful application to the pairing scheme, managed by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts. Miller’s Art, Glasgow, sponsored a prize of £250 gift vouchers for the 1999 exhibition and £150 gift voucher prize for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. All our high quality printing for the previous exhibitions has been sponsored by Iain Crosbie Printers (now Cleland Crosbie), Beith. North Ayrshire Council have shown their support for this event by the presence of the Convener, now Provost of North Ayrshire Council at all previous openings to give a vote of thanks on behalf of the Council. North Ayrshire Council has also provided refreshments for the openings, assisted with administration & graphics, and allowed the use of their mail out which is quite substantial for the exhibition. The Moffat Charitable Trust sponsored the £1000 prize for the 2003 exhibition and Kingscroft Logistics Ltd of Irvine sponsored a £250 prize in the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 exhibitions. For the last three shows, The Rotary Club of Irvine have sponsored a £250 prize for an Irvine based artist and The Irvine Herald. £200 for the Visitors’ Prize.