Opportunities
Check out the latest competitions to enter and make a note of important deadlines
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
Contemporary British Painting Prize
Details: The aim of the prize, which is open to all contemporary painters working in the British Isles, is to explore and promote current painting. A minimum of 12 artists will be shortlisted to exhibit at the Huddersfield Art Gallery’s new temporary space, from November 6 to January 8, 2022. A second exhibition will take place at Unit 1 Gallery and Workshop, London, from January 21 to February 7.
When: the deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on September 5.
Contact: www. contemporarybritishpainting.com
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
The Great Sheffield Art Show Online 2021
Details: Entries are now invited from both amateur and professional artists for the Great Sheffield Art Show 2021, which this year will be online only. The exhibition will be available to view online from November 1 to January 31, 2022. To apply you need to fill in a submission form downloaded from www. greatsheffieldartshow.co.uk
When: Open for submissions now; closing on September 17. Contact: info@enormousart.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
International Original Print Exhibition
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/
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
Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers 2021
Details: Entries are invited to the annual Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers’ (RMS) annual exhibition, which takes place at the Mall Galleries, London, from November 25 to December 5. Paintings and drawings entered must be no larger than 634½in (15311.5cm) and 8in (20cm) for sculpture across the longest length.
When: Closing for submissions at midday on September 14. Contact: www.royal-miniaturesociety.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 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 until Friday August 20, 12 noon.
Contact: Enter online at https:// mallgalleries.oess1.uk
John Busby Seabird Drawing Course
Details: The Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) offers between three and five bursaries for places on the John Busby Seabird Drawing Course each year, which takes place at a number of seabird colonies around Dunbar and the Firth of Forth. The six-day course is usually held at the end of June each year and gives an opportunity to work alongside a group of new and established artists with the shared aim of creating exciting and innovative work under the leadership of Darren Woodhead and tutors Kittie Jones, Nik Pollard and Pascale Rentsch. The Seabird Drawing Course was set up by John Busby 30 years ago and, although many SWLA members have participated over the years, it is an independent course and open to all. To find out more email seabird.drawing@gmail. com and request to be put on the mailing list. The call for applications usually goes out in the autumn.
Contact: For more information on the Seabird Drawing Week bursary visit the SWLA website at https://swla.co.uk/bursaries/ seabird-drawing-week-bursary