The Bull Theatre in Barnet is to host its first art exhibition next week, entitled In Art We Trust, which is free and open to members of the public.

The exhibition’s curator is artist Roseanne Artisan and will feature more than 30 artists, many from the local area. The event opens on the first Sunday with a one-day arts festival.

Events on the Sunday include a live painting demonstration with a piano accompaniment, talks by artists JoWOnder, Rebecca Corn and Rebekah Ann Steele. There will be spoken word and flash fiction performances by Clockhouse London Writers, an art auction of donated artworks to raise money for the theatre, and a live jazz band to close the festivities in the evening.

Susi Earnshaw, of the Bull Theatre, is excited about the whole exhibition. “It is the first time we have done anything like this since taking on caring for the Bull Theatre.”

Since 2004, when the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School took on the Bull Theatre from the council, they have hoped to host such an exhibition.

“I have always been frustrated that we couldn’t do this for the local community and our wider arts community and now hopefully this exhibition will be successful and then we can build on it each year until it turns into a major art event in London.”

  • The Bull Theatre, High Street, Barnet from Sunday, July 14 to Saturday, July 27. Details: 020 8441 5010, thebulltheatre.com