A Deep Dive into the BMN 2026 Open Call
Last month, we hosted an online Zoom event exploring this year’s Open Call HIVE. During the session, we took a deep dive into the theme, looked at examples of artists whose work responds to it, and shared further information about the exhibition.
Kate Montgomery
Our February event was an intensely colourful experience with painter and teacher Kate Montgomery joining us to give an insight into her work and practice.
Artwork Archive
We started our creative new year with an engaging session exploring Artwork Archive — an intuitive online platform used by artists around the world to stay organised, professional and visible.
Christmas Social
Our end-of-year social event for the network was with a twist! An informal festive celebration of a year of creativity and connecting.
Artist led Projects II – An Art Trail and a Book
For our second November event on Artist-Led Projects, we returned to the Towner with two BMN artist-members, Loupe Cooper and Adrian Chapell, who shared their recent projects with us.
Artist-Led Projects – Planning Your Own Exhibition
This November, BMN held two events exploring artist-led projects, where artists are taking action to develop their creative practice. The first event was held at the blackShed Gallery near Robertsbridge, where Nikki Davidson-Bowman is having a solo exhibition, Pathways.
Artist Talk: Emii Alrai
Our October event was a collaboration with Towner, where we joined artist Emii Alrai as she discussed the ideas and processes that inform her most recent artworks and exhibitions.
Art Works That Inspire
For our September event, 3 artist members gave a short talk with the emphasis on artworks that inspire them.
Printworks Show – Lucky Dip Walk & Talk
For our August event we met at the Emma Mason Gallery in Eastbourne to surround ourselves in work by our members at this year's Blue Monkey Network exhibition, Printworks.
The Light Of Day – An Informal Retrospective by Kath Dawson
In July, we headed out to the Atrium Gallery at the Marine Workshops in Newhaven to see Kath Dawson’s retrospective exhibition, ‘The Light of Day’.
Map, Make, Move: A Creative Planning Guide for Artists – A no-nonsense planning session for Artists. Clarity, focus and a plan that fits your practice
For our June event, we welcomed Blue Monkey member Steve Bannatyne to share his process for creative planning to support your creative practice with admin tools.
Changemaking in the Arts
We were delighted to welcome Joanna Myles, Director of Sussex Contemporary, to our May event.
Diving Queens: Portraits of Resilience – An out-of-hours viewing and talk by June Nelson
June has kindly offered to share with us an out-of-hours viewing of her first solo exhibition, Diving Queens: Portraits of Resilience.
“Getting into Flow during arts practice: neuroscience explains its positive effects” A Talk by Gaynor Sádlo
Gaynor explored the neuroscience behind the experience of Flow, — a positive mental state often reported by those engaged in arts practices.
Out of Hours - Drawing the Unspeakable
For the first event of 2025, we were given out-of-hours access to the current Drawing the Unspeakable exhibition at Towner.
Creating a bit of a do! Something you've created this year & social
Our December event was an informal festive celebration of a year of creativity.
Behind the scenes at ROSA magazine
ROSA editor Alex Leith and art director Rowena Easton joined our November meeting to give us an exclusive insight into Rosa Magazine.
Magical thinking, somatics and synesthesia; building a transformative grief practice
Artist Carrie Stanley talks about her grief works and the journey that she has been on to make them.
Lika, Petranka, me and Other Stories
Our August event was an interesting talk by artist member, Ivilina Kouneva. Iviliana traced her roots in the Balkans through art...
REGENERATE - an exhibition of works from Blue Monkey Network members
REGENERATE -an exhibition of works from Blue Monkey Network members at the VOLT gallery.
Controversial Art and Artists
A Blue Monkey Conversation took place for our July event. The conversation was titled Controversial Art and Artists, at the VOLT gallery.
Watercycle
Waterweek artists Charlotte Still and Clare Whistler invited Blue Monkey Network to join them on a walk along the Horsey Sewer.
Photographing your artwork with artist Elizabeth Doak
This was the first of two workshops to be held this Summer for BMN members on Photographing your artwork with artist Elizabeth Doak.
The Archive – An online talk with artist Agata Read
For our March event we were online with a zoom event artist-led talk by Agata Read, titled The Archive.
CHAMPIONING WOMEN IN THE ARTS
A talk by Sarah Norris, who shared with us some insights into her role as founder of WIA (Women in Art).
inSIGHT into upSCALE with One-To-Tenonline Gallery owner and curator Sharon Wylde
upSCALE is an exhibition at Project 78 Gallery where artist and curator Sharon Wylde has taken her online micro gallery into a real space.
Figures in movement: Out of Hours Gallery visit with Gaynor Sádlo
An ‘out of hours’ access to the latest exhibition of works by previous BMN member Alex Sádlo (1927-2021) with Gaynor Sádlo’s ceramics.
Turner Prize - Out of Hours
An out-of-hours talk at the Turner Prize with Emily Medd, Commissions, and Public Programme Curator at Towner Eastbourne.
Drawn to Music - Artists in Cahoots
For our last event of 2023, we were in the Towner's cinema for an evening watching BM members' collaborative film projects.
Instagram for artists with Mina O’Brien from Ditzy Media
Mina O’Brien from Ditzy Media social media business offered BMN members workshops to improve their Instagram skills.
Vital Signs Exhibition Visit
A visit and talk at the Vital Signs exhibition with artist Judith Alder.
Visit to VOLT Gallery: Existence Proof by Rottingdean Bazaar
Our extra October event was a visit to the current exhibition at VOLT gallery, Existence Proof by Rottingdean Bazaar.
Looking back, looking forward
Blue Monkey member Judy Martin introduced a survey of her work from the past fifteen years as a starting point to consider ways of working.
In the footsteps of Babs
Nikki Davidson-Bowman's talk was inspired by attending the symposium “(M)otherhood” at Tate St Ives, and Barbara Hepworth exhibition.
Artist talk at Project 78 Gallery by Agata Read
Blue Monkey member, Agata Read gave a talk at the Project 78 Gallery about the work she is exhibiting there.
Arpita Shah artist talk: Photography, community and collaboration
The talk this month was by Arpita Shah, at the Volt gallery, in connection with her current exhibition ‘From one dream to another’.
‘Five by Five’ – 5 artists talk about their work
Our popular May event featured 5 members rising to the challenge of sharing their work in a strictly timed Pecha Kucha-style presentation.
‘Home Movie 2022’ – Film and artist talk by guest artist Caroline Pick, introduced by June Nelson
‘Home Movie 2022’ – Film and artist talk by guest artist Caroline Pick, introduced by June Nelson.
One gallery…two exhibitions, with special viewing and artist talk
Special viewing and artist-led talk at the Volt gallery. Featuring work by Mark Corfield-Moore and Tomoya Matsuzaki.
‘8 paintings I’d like to meet’ – BMN artist member Roger Adams, shares his wish list
BMN artist member Roger Adams, shared his wish list of 8 paintings he would like to meet.
Virtual Tribes - Professional Development Online
Two BMN artists gave a talk on their experiences of online professional development courses.
Out of Hours – The Brewers International Open
Blue Monkey Network were pleased to have the opportunity to access this exhibition out of hours.
Cat Ingrams: 'Only Connect'
Cat Ingrams talk: reflections on the theme of connection
5 X 5: Five Sussex artists talk
5 X 5: Five Sussex artists talk about their work for 5 minutes each
Artist Talk: Judith Alder 'Dead or Alive?'
Judith is a visual artist with a multi-faceted practice, working across a range of media and processes.
Artist Talk: David Blandy
Artist David Blandy joined us for a talk about the creation of his new video work 'The Edge of Forever' and his current artistic practice.
The Back of an Envelope Exhibition
The Back of an Envelope exhibition took place in September 2022 at Edgeland Modern
When Where What
A playful way to promote an event or to share something that has awakened curiosity or broadened artistic horizons.