Manx National Heritage is helping the Mannin Art Group to celebrate their 60th anniversary with an exhibition of their artwork, past and present at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

The exhibition shows the range and diversity of work being produced by current members of the Mannin Art Group and contains a wide variety of work, including pieces from the National Art Collection by past members such as John H. Nicholson, William Hoggatt and John E. Aitken.

The Mannin Art Group was founded in 1950 with 20 members and has gone on to become an important forum for Manx artists, particularly in the north of the Island, and now has a membership of over 150 artists. 

The group held its first exhibition only a few months after starting and this has gone on to become an annual event and an important date in the Island’s artistic calendar.

Yvonne Cresswell, Curator of Social History, says, "The exhibition illustrates the enthusiasm that members of the Mannin Art Group, both past and present, have had for their shared passion – art. 

"The exhibition contains a wide variety of artistic styles and techniques and hopefully it may inspire some visitors to join the Mannin Art Group and to try their own hand at art."

For any inspired budding artists, of all ages, there will be an opportunity to try their hand at a variety of different techniques during the half-term holidays (15th-19th February) when Manx National Heritage and the Mannin Art Group will be staging a series of art workshops at the Manx Museum.

The Mannin Art Group’s 60th Anniversary exhibition opens on Saturday 23rd January and continues to Saturday 1st May.  The Manx Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.