Four local artists—Ashley Medlock, Emma Saul, Annabelle Benjamin, and Ellen Bletsoe—are presenting a group exhibition titled “Testing the Waters” at Chichele College, an English Heritage site in Higham Ferrers. The show runs from 20-21 September and 24-28 September 2025, as part of the Northants & Rutland Open Studios Art Festival, the largest visual arts event in the county. Each artist contributes contemporary works in painting, ceramics, and abstract forms, set against the medieval backdrop of the historic building.
This exhibition matters because it marks the first time Chichele College has hosted an event for the NROS festival, bridging the region’s heritage with contemporary artistic practice. By placing modern art in a historic setting, the show highlights the ongoing dialogue between past and present, while also supporting local artists and community engagement through free, accessible programming. It underscores the role of regional festivals in sustaining grassroots visual arts participation outside major urban centers.