Stephen Willats: Social Resource Project for Tennis Clubs – Tennis Tournament

Book your free tickets and join us to watch the Tennis Tournament – a live artwork by Stephen Willats, taking place as part of our forthcoming exhibition Social Resource Project for Tennis Clubs.

Background
In 1971 whilst living and working in Nottingham, Stephen initiated an art project with four tennis clubs in Nottingham entitled Social Resource Project for Tennis Clubs. Working with a group of volunteers, a number of ‘games’ were devised that reinterpreted the traditional rules and format of tennis. This culminated in an experimental ‘Tennis Tournament’.

Tennis Tournament – Saturday 8 October, 2 – 4 pm
50 years on from the original event, Stephen will once again work with a group of volunteers re-enact the original games of tennis devised in 1971 for a demonstration on Saturday 8th October 2 – 4 pm at The Park Tennis Club in Nottingham – one of the original clubs involved in the project. The public are invited to watch, with lunch and refreshments provided for everyone attending. Participants will represent a wide range of tennis abilities, even those who haven’t played before.

Everyone is invited to the gallery in the evening 6 – 8pm for the launch of Stephen’s solo exhibition Social Resource Project for Tennis Clubs, for a glass of wine.

Opportunity
If you would like to participate in the actual event, please email Tom Godfrey (Director, Bonington Gallery) on tom.godfrey@ntu.ac.uk for further details, by Wednesday 21 September.

Venue
The Tennis Tournament will take place at The Park Tennis Club, Tattershall Drive, The Park, Nottingham, NG7 1BX.

• Light refreshments will be available
• Photography and filming will be taking place
• There is step-free access to the tennis pavilion

Exhibition launch
Following the Tennis Tournament, we’ll be hosting a free exhibition launch of Social Resource Project for Tennis Clubs at the Gallery, from 6 – 8 pm. Book your free ticket now.