The 2026 Open Art Competition & Selling Exhibition

Our annual open art competition is open to any artist, in any medium including (but not restricted to) painting, drawing, pastels, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics & glass. We have a separate competition for photography which was last year.

Any artist from across the UK can enter, but we do have a separate prize for best entry from a local artist.

We had 670 entries from across the UK last year and sold over one third of the 150 finalist entries during the 10 day exhibition. Take a look at the Prize Winners and those Highly Commended

Prizes:

• Main prize (any medium): £1000 – sponsored by Wychavon District Council
• Runner up to the main prize (any medium): £250 sponsored by Art Broadway
• Painting in Oils or Acrylics Prize £500 – sponsored by John Noott Galleries
• Sculpture / 3D Prize £500 – sponsored by Sharon & Mark Ward (Trustee)
• Local Artist Prize £500 – sponsored by Lennox Cato Antiques & Works of Art
• Still Life Prize of a solo weekend show – sponsored by The White Gallery Chipping Campden
• Best Entry from a New Entrant £500 – sponsored by the Painter’s Company Charities
• Visitors’ Choice Prize £250 voucher towards an overnight stay or food at Russells of Broadway plus afternoon tea for 2 at Dormy House Hotel

We have a panel of esteemed judges, including category judges from the sponsors.

Artists’ work that is selected for the final judging stage form an exclusive selling exhibition at Bretforton Theatrebarn from 25th September-4th October 2026, open daily from 11am – 4pm. Entry to the exhibition is free and there is ample free parking right outside. The exhibition space is all on the ground floor.

Some of our finalists will be demonstrating live during the exhibition . There is a demo area in between the two main exhibition areas where artists will be able to work on a piece and chat with exhibition visitors.

Terms:

• There is no theme to adhere to
• Anyone over the age of 16 can enter
• All entries qualify for the main prize (any medium)
• Entries must be original artwork (e.g. no limited edition Giclee prints)
• Unlimited entries are permitted, however only one entry per artist could progress to the finals and exhibition (to increase the number of artists represented in the exhibition).
• Artists can submit multiple entries for the same prize category
• The maximum size for all framed work was 1 metre x 1 metre (to include any frame) – not applicable to sculpture
• To qualify for the local artist prize category, artists need to reside in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire or Warwickshire.
• The title and price of your entry cannot be altered once the entry has been submitted.
• As 35% of the sale price of sold work will go to defray the costs of curating the competition and supporting the charitable work of the Broadway Arts Festival, please price your work accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions