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.
When: The closing date for entries is September 30.
Contact: 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 for from this summer until December 2021. Full details will appear on these pages in the coming months. For more information in the meantime email derwent@parkerharris.co.uk
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
Details: The International Original Print Exhibition, established by the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) is an international open submission exhibition celebrating the best of contemporary printmaking. An exhibition of selected work will go on show at the Bankside Gallery, London from November 3 to 14.
When: Open for submissions now, with a closing date of September 8, 11.59 (UK time).
Contact: Full details available at https://www.re-printmakers.com/ competitions/
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 August 20 and 30. 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 Institute of Oil Painters (ROI)
Details: The Royal Institute of Oil Painters seeks work in oils and is the only national art society devoted to oil painting. The ROI annual exhibition offers several prizes including the Winsor & Newton Young Artist Awards. This year’s mini theme is ‘Rebirth’. Selected works on the theme will be hung together as a special display within the show. The theme is optional; it is one aspect of a larger exhibition to which oil paintings of all subjects in any style are welcome for consideration. Works must be submitted online for pre-selection. An exhibition of selected work will go on show at the Mall Galleries, London, from November 24 to December 4.
When: Open for submissions now; closing date: Friday September 10, 12 noon. Enter online at www.mallgalleries.oess1.uk
Contact: For more information and details of how to enter go to https://www.mallgalleries.org.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
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, Nottinghamshire, 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
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