David BaleA spring exhibition by Norwich artists is set to boost the city's bid to become UK City of Culture in 2013.Support Norwich on FacebookOfficial Norwich 2013 bid websiteDavid Bale

A spring exhibition by Norwich artists is set to boost the city's bid to become UK City of Culture in 2013.

The Norwich 20 Group (N20G) was formed in 1944 and now has more than 60 members, several of whom exhibit regularly in the West End and abroad.

Its spring exhibition 'It Takes Two - Norwich 20 Group Artists Collaborate' includes work based on the love of apples, and drawings inspired by visits to the Sainsbury Centre at the UEA.

Rory McShane, chairman N20G, said: 'The exhibition continues on from our successful Voicing Visions exhibition staged in St Margaret's Church, St Benedict's, in 2009.

'This year's spring exhibition has given our members, who include painters, sculptors, photographers and print makers, the opportunity to create some very exciting collaborations.'

The work features a collaboration between Gill Levin and Nell Close that came out of a mutual enthusiasm for apples and was inspired by the late Mary Newcomb, one of Britain's best loved artists, who was a member of N20G for many years.

David Woods and Michael Chapman both produced drawings following visits to the Sainsbury collection.

Mr Chapman said: 'We both admire the Sierra Leone Sherbro head, carved from Steatite. The head appears to be looking up, as if 'Moon bathing' and on consideration, is far from anatomically correct. The beauty lies in the boldness of the carving and clarity of vision of the carver.'

Over the years the membership of N20G has included nationally known artists including Bernard Reynolds and Jeffrey Camp.

The City of Culture competition was set up by the government in the aftermath of the success Liverpool enjoyed as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

With UK cities effectively barred from winning the European title until 2022, the competition offers cities the chance to host major events and benefit from national publicity and media coverage. Norwich is on the final shortlist alongside Sheffield, Birmingham and Derry/ Londonderry.

The bid team will submit their final documents at the end of this month and will make a presentation to the judges before the final decision is made in the summer,

'It Takes Two - Norwich 20 Group Artists Collaborate' will be staged at St Margaret's Church, St Benedicts, Norwich from Tuesday, May 11 to Saturday, May 22, open daily 10am to 6pm, free admission.

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