MK Calling (28 June – 8 September) is the Gallery’s summer programme of exhibitions and performances, featuring 100 artists, musicians and performers from Milton Keynes. This dynamic season of painting, video, dance, music, poetry and much, much more will showcase MK’s finest emerging and established talent.

The MK Calling preview and MK Gallery’s Summer Party with free hog roast and live jazz will take place on Thursday 27th June from 6-10pm. Everyone is welcome. There will be speeches by Anthony Spira (MK Gallery’s Director), Hedley Swain (Area Director, ArtsCouncil South East) and Peter Geary (MK Council Cabinet Member for the Arts) at 7pm.

Earlier this year an Open Call for Submissions resulted in 300 proposals being received from artists and creatives connected to Milton Keynes. The range and quality of work was so extraordinary that the selection process was extremely difficult. MK Gallery invited external experts to assist in this process: David Rayson, artist and Head of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London; Professor Gill Perry, Professor of Art History at The Open University; and Emma-Jayne Taylor, Director of Artworks MK, Milton Keynes.

Speaking about the exhibition, MK Gallery’s Director Anthony Spira, said: “We were thrilled by the response to the call out and delighted by the diversity of proposed work and events. As well as the exhibitions, performances, screenings etc this is one of many Gallery projects that provide opportunities for artists and audiences in Milton Keynes to meet, network, share ideas, and participate in workshops, training and mentoring.”

Simon Wright, MK Gallery’s Events Manager added: “We’re working with an amazingly talented group of artists and performers to deliver the MK Calling Season of Events in July and August. Highlights include an evening about body art/tattooing, a UK music première featuring a 26 piece electric guitar orchestra and a cycling exhibition tour linking MK Gallery and Artworks MK, ending up in a pub! Hopefully there will be something to entertain, challenge and inspire everyone.”

In addition to the exhibitions and events at MK Gallery, Artworks MK will host a presentation of nine artists from 6 July to 8 September 2013. The preview will take place on Saturday 6 July from 12–3pm, with a free social eating event organised by MK Calling artists TendayiVine and Tracey Suen. All welcome. More information can be found at www.artworksmk.co.uk. Artworks MK’s regular opening hours are Monday – Saturday 10am -4pm. MK Calling is the first of a two-part programme by MK Gallery about art in Milton Keynes. Part two, titled Treasures in MK, features works from 50 private and public collections in and around the city and will take place from January to April 2014. In addition to presenting fascinating exhibitions in their own right, the intention is that the ‘producers’ in MK Calling meet the ‘consumers’ from MK Treasures to build and develop a strong cultural and creative eco-system within the city in the lead up to the Gallery’s ambitious £10m expansion, scheduled to open in 2017 to celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary.