Joan Day Bursary to support Jenny Bratt’s first solo exhibition
We’re really excited to share that local artist, Jenny Bratt, has been selected for the Joan Day Bursary Award, supporting her to deliver her first ever solo exhibition.
Here, Somehow will open at South Square on 4 September. The exhibition is a celebration of the people, places and quiet moments that shape everyday life in Armley, Leeds. Inspired by the neighbourhood and the people who call it home, Jenny’s paintings capture domestic scenes and the overlooked details of everyday life.
Exhibition details
- Opening night: Friday 4 September, 6 – 9pm
Plenty at the Square cafe, onsite bar, The Watchmaker, and a pop-up cocktail bar will be open for refreshments.
- Exhibition: 5 September – 1 November
Drop in during gallery opening hours.
- Meet the Artist: Saturday 26 September, 12 – 2pm
Meet Jenny Bratt and hear more about the work and the inspiration behind the exhibition. You are free to drop in anytime, but please book a place to help us manage capacity.
About the Joan Day Bursary Award
The Joan Day Bursary Award was created in memory of Joan Day, a highly skilled painter who lived and worked in the West Yorkshire region for much of her life. The bursary supports emerging artists who use paint as a prominent feature of their practice, providing an opportunity to exhibit new and recent work at South Square Centre.
About Jenny Bratt
Jenny studied painting and printmaking at Bradford College in the 2000s before building a career in psychological therapies and raising a family. In recent years, Jenny has returned to painting. The Joan Day Bursary has provided crucial support at a significant moment in her practice, allowing her to create new work for her first solo exhibition.
Jenny Bratt said:
“I’m truly honoured to have been awarded the Joan Day Bursary Award by the team at South Square Centre. Painting has always been deeply personal to me and my way of processing the complexities of everyday life. But like many parents, it has taken a back seat in recent years while I’ve focused on the responsibilities of motherhood and raising a family.
Having recently started to paint more, the bursary has supported me to rebuild my portfolio at a critical time. Having started my artist journey in Bradford, the chance to exhibit at South Square is also a great opportunity to return with new work to what feels like my formative artistic homeland.”
Alice Withers, Director at South Square, said:
“We’re delighted to honour Joan Day’s memory through this bursary. As an artist and educator, Joan was passionate about nurturing artistic development, and it feels particularly meaningful to support Jenny at this important stage in her practice. We’re very grateful to Joan’s family for enabling us to continue her legacy in this way – and, of course, congratulations to Jenny on this award.
“Jenny joins a fantastic list of Joan Day Bursary recipients who have exhibited with us over the years, and we’re thrilled to continue that tradition with her first solo exhibition. We hope audiences will come along in September to experience Here, Somehow and discover Jenny’s work for themselves.”
