THE World of Glass is to showcase its new glass-cubed gallery area as the St Helens Open Art Competition is held.

The new space will be the largest gallery for exhibitions in the town with the works from the annual competition the first to be hung at the location.

READ MORE > Time to share your artistic talent at the Open Art Competition

In its eighth year, The St Helens Open Art Competition and exhibition will return to The World of Glass and will see the work of the town's budding artists in a variety of media and across a wide range of abilities.

The competition will award £2,100 worth of prizes this year as announced at a preview and prize giving on Tuesday, July 16 and this year has seen a record number of entrants, say organisers.

Artists are putting the finishing touches to the works that will be showcased in the new area.

Artist and one of the organisers of the competition, Paul Cousins, said: “The countdown over the last few weeks is probably the most nerve-wracking time, as artists put the finishing touches to the works they are entering.

"We have come a long way over the last seven years and the quality and quantity of work improves every year, but it’s down to the judging panel who will receive one of the accolades at the prize giving and of course being hung in this new gallery space.”

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The World of Glass

Ron Helsby, executive director at the World of Glass, added: “We are delighted that this prestigious exhibition is the first to be hung in the new gallery space.

“It’s right that we should showcase the great art, by artists of the town to the maximum number of local, regional and national visitors that we get – we should be very proud of this achievement. This exhibition is this year supported by the Rainford Trust and St Helens Council and we are delighted to work together to deliver this annual jewel in the art calendar."

The requirements for artists entering the St Helens Open Ar Competition is that they should live, work or study in the borough and work should be no larger than one metre by one metre.

Hannah Billinge, curator at The World of Glass, added: “It’s always exciting to see new work to be exhibited and it also helps raise the profile of The World of Glass and reinforces its reputation as a major centre for the arts in the region.

“We are all aware of the benefits of art and culture in our day to day lives, we now have a beautiful gallery where everyone is welcome to experience it, it’s a great asset to the town.”

The new gallery space is the first phase of changes to The World of Glass Museum, Visitor and Arts Centre.