Two free exhibitions open at Arts Centre Washington this week, bringing contemporary responses to global conflict and personal healing to the local community. From Monday, 2 June, residents can visit ‘Broken’, a group show tackling fractures of modern life, and Nat Hardy’s solo display ‘ISM – Art with Heart’, both running until Saturday, 6 June.
‘Broken’ gathers local artists responding to themes of war, climate breakdown, and societal rupture with what organisers describe as honesty, urgency, and imagination. Among the works is a textile piece titled ‘GAZA (2026)’ by Kath Price, directly engaging with the conflict in the Middle East. The exhibition sits alongside Hardy’s deeply personal showcase, which uses needle felting, watercolour, acrylics, soft pastels, and textiles to depict her experience living with Inborn Errors of Metabolism and the vibrancy she finds in a 12 Step programme.
Hardy secured the solo slot after winning the 2024 Spotlight: Washington Open Exhibition, a competition run by Sunderland Culture, which operates the venue. Visitors planning to see ‘Broken’ should note that its Granary gallery space is multi-use and not always open to the public; checking ahead is advised by calling 0191 561 3455 or emailing [email protected].
Both exhibitions provide a brief, accessible window for residents to engage with work that spans geopolitical commentary and intimate personal narrative. The shows are completely free, with no booking required, and further details are available from Arts Centre Washington’s website.
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