In DAN we are proud of our two-strands of interest as an arts network. As well as creating and holding community events to engage the public in art, we also focus on promoting our members’ work for exhibition and sale, and in 2019 we decided it would be ideal to put on this exhibition at the Sir Peter Blake Gallery.

In 2017 the gallery had been given a re-fit, and our now Creative Director, Eija Burrell, was responsible for organising the programme and curating exhibitions on behalf of DBC. Eija was keen to bring in a group exhibition for DAN, not only to show the artwork of the members, but also to publicise the group to hopefully attract new members who may not have been aware of the group’s existence.

We made a deliberate choice not to have a theme for the exhibition, hoping instead to gather a wide variety of styles and themes which would convey the scope of our membership interest and talent. With approximately 50- 60 pieces needed to fill the gallery space, DAN members were submitted images of their artwork to be chosen by the Art Panel at the DBC. Being a community-run group, we also put together an artist’s rota for help with hanging the exhibition, ready for the opening. This in itself worked very well and we had great fun setting up the exhibition! The work submitted was of an extremely high standard and ranged from illustration, to painting, to sculpture, and photography.

The private view was busy and well-received, with speeches from the Honorable Mayor of Dartford and the Leader of The Council. It was lovely to gather with featured artists and their guests too, and to discuss the works together.

The DAN exhibition ran for the whole of September, and during this period artists were encouraged to come into the gallery to meet viewers and talk about their artwork.

DAN achieved an exhibition that was much talked about afterwards, and our members were subsequently keen to sign up for a further exhibition in 2020. This is still very much in the pipeline, but unfortunately, due to Covid- 19 the gallery is still temporarily closed. Watch this space!