Opportunities
Check out the latest competitions to enter and make a note of important deadlines
Sending-in days A Letter in Mind
Details: The National Brain Appeal is inviting artists to take part in its 2021 appeal – A Letter in Mind, which asks artists to get creative on an envelope. Now in its 8th year, the event will be virtual this year, from November 4 to 7. All artworks will be exhibited anonymously, priced at £85 and will include both amateur, celebrity and professional artists. All money raised will go towards helping people with neurological conditions and supporting projects at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. For more information see page 11 of this issue.
When: The closing date for entries is September 30.
Contact: https://www.nationalbrainappeal.org/getinvolved/a-letter-in-mind
Chelsea Art Society
Details: Unfortunately, the 2021 Chelsea Art Society Open Art Exhibition has been cancelled. The exhibition will take place in 2022 – more details to follow in the coming months. In the meantime, the society will hold an exhibition at 340 Kings Road, London, from September 6 to 19. Contact: www.chelseaartsociety.org.uk
Derwent Art Prize
Details: The Derwent Art Prize is a bi-annual competition and will not be taking place until 2022. Entries will be called from this summer until early 2022. Full details will appear on these pages in the coming months. For more information in the meantime email derwent@parkerharris.co.uk
Dorset Art Prize
Details: The Dorset Art Prize is free to enter and open to all Dorset residents, rewarding and celebrating art across Dorset. Various categories, including categories for young artists, allow both emerging and established artists the opportunity to showcase their work. An exhibition of selected work will take place at Poole Museum later in the year.
Closing date: July 15.
Contact: www.thecollege.co.uk/ dorset-art-prize
Hahnemühle 2022 Calendar Competition
Details: The calendar competition is open to all artists in all painting and drawing media and traditional etching techniques, as well as mixed media that has been created on Hahnemühle or Lana paper. This year the theme of the competition is ‘Joy and Happiness’. Five entries are permitted per person.
Closing date: June 30. Contact: www.hahnemuehle.com
ING Discerning Eye
Details: Entries are invited for the 2021 ING Discerning Eye exhibition, which gives artists the opportunity to showcase their work at the Mall Galleries in London and in a unique virtual exhibition, with the chance to win a range of prizes. The exhibition will take place at the Mall Galleries in London, from November 11 to 21.
When: Open for submissions now; closing on Tuesday September 7.
Contact: https://thediscerningeye.artopps.co.uk
Niddart Trail 2021
Details: Artists, art clubs and societies are invited to register if they would like to take part in this year’s Niddart Trail, which takes place between 20 and 30 August. There will also be a virtual trail, from August 1. The trail features artists and craftspeople from Nidderdale in North Yorkshire and the surrounding area.
Contact: Register your interest at www.niddart.org.uk
For more information email niddarttrail@gmail.com
Royal Society of Marine Artists
Details: The RSMA seeks submissions of art inspired by the sea and marine environments – covering anything that involves tidal water. All work must be submitted online. Open to all artists over the age of 18. Acceptable media are: oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints of any media, mixed media, drawing, pastels or sculpture. An exhibition of selected work will go on show at the Mall Galleries, London, from September 30 to October 10.
When: Open for submissions now. The closing date for entries is 12 noon on Friday July 9.
Contact: Enter online at https://mallgalleries.oess1.uk
Society of Painters in Water-Mixable Oils
Details: The Society of Painters in Water-Mixable Oils (SPWMO) is inviting entries for its second annual Open Painting Competition 2021. Works must be created using water-mixable oil paint and must have been created no earlier than January 2019. Works can be entered into the following categories: Landscape; Seascape; Portrait/ Figurative; Still life; Wildlife/ Animal painting.
When: The closing date for submissions is October 31. Entries should be emailed to hello@spwmo.org.uk
Contact: Full details available at https://www.spwmo.org.uk
Sketch for Survival Introducing
Details: Sketch for Survival Introducing is a charitable initiative organised by Explorers Against Extinction to help raise awareness about species extinction and habitat loss while also raising vital funds for nominated frontline conservation projects through the sale of artworks. The exhibition is free to enter. One hundred selected artworks join the Sketch for Survival exhibition alongside invited artists and celebrities and are included in the end of year auction.
When: Open for submissions now. The closing date for entries is June 30.
Contact: Enter online at www.explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/
Society of Equestrian Artists Open Exhibition
Details: Entries are invited to the 42nd annual The Horse in Art open exhibition at Sally Mitchell’s Gallery, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire NG22 0LA, from September 4 to 11. Email: admin@equestrianartists.co.uk or check the website for up-to-date information or telephone 0300 0110 185 (11am to 4pm). Closing date: July 18.
Contact: www.equestrianartists.co.uk
Society of Wildlife Artists
Details: The Society of Wildlife Artists seeks submissions of works that depict wildlife subjects and evoke the spirit of the natural world for its 58th annual exhibition. All two- and three-dimensional artwork inspired by the natural world is eligible. The selection committee is looking for artwork that displays a deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, based on ‘in the field’ observation, work that reflects a personal, original and creative response, work that displays a high level of technical skill, and work that showcases interesting approaches and emerging new talent. An exhibition of selected work will go on show alongside members’ work at the Mall Galleries, London, from October 14 to 24.
When: Open for submissions from Monday June 21 to Friday August 20, 12 noon.
Contact: Enter online at https://mallgalleries.oess1.uk
The Society of Women Artists
Details: The Society of Women Artists (SWA) invites submissions of fine art works including paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, engravings, lithographs and other printing techniques, for its 160th annual exhibition. The exhibition, which will be online and virtual, will run from September 21 until December 31. Prizes and awards are worth over £4,000 including the £1,500 Young Artist’s Award.
Closing date: The closing date for digital submissions is June 25. Contact: www.society-womenartists.org.uk
UK Coloured Pencil Society
Details: Open exhibition, open to all artists, aged 18 or over. All work must be original in concept, design and execution and must demonstrate compositional and drawing skills and the ability to use coloured pencils. An exhibition of selected work will go on show at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, South Bank, London SE1, from 14 to 24 October. When: The closing date for entries is 31 July.
Contact: Enter online at www.ukcps.org.uk