The Great Big Art Exhibition: Ai Weiwei and Anthony Gormley leading UK’s largest-ever art exhibition held in people’s front windows

Different theme will be chosen each fortnight by a famous artist, with members of the public encouraged to get involved

Ai Weiwei and Anthony Gormley are involved in The Great British Art Exhibition (Getty Images)

Ai Weiwei and Sir Anthony Gormley are among the artists involved in the UK’s “largest-ever art exhibition”, which will be held in people’s front windows.  

Galleries and museums, including the Tate, National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland, are teaming up to encourage people to create art to “counter the gloom of the pandemic”.  

Gormley, famous for his Angel of the North sculpture, has chosen the opening theme, which is animals.  

Anyone can get involved to make drawings, paintings, sculptures or other works that follow the theme, and display their work in front windows, on doors, balconies or in gardens.  

They can create art as individuals or as a community by joining up “virtually” with their street, school, temple, church, shopping centre or football team.

Other artists who will choose themes each fortnight include Ai Weiwei, Sir Anish Kapoor and Jeremy Deller.

The next theme of The Great Big Art Exhibition will be portraits, chosen by Sonia Boyce, and the artworks can be made of anything.

“Making, showing and experiencing art has created so much joy, connection and solace for many thousands of people,” said Sally Shaw, director of Colchester venue Firstsite, which first came up with the idea.

“The doors to our collections and galleries might be shut but our imaginations are forever open.”

She added: “I can't wait to see a brand new nationwide art gallery appearing before our eyes in coming days, weeks and months. This is sure to be an incredible expression of people's creativity.”

The Great Big Art Exhibition will run from Thursday 28 January until April.  

Information and an activity pack are available from http://www.firstsite.uk. 

Additional reporting by Press Association.