The 2023 Open Art Competition & Selling Exhibition

Our annual open art competition is open to any artist, in any medium including painting, printmaking, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics & glass.

Prizes include:

  • Main prize £1000 (any medium) – sponsored by Wychavon District Council
  • Painting in Oils or Acrylics Prize £500 – sponsored by Priory Gallery
  • Watercolour Prize £500 – sponsored by John Noott (Founder’s Prize)
  • Sculpture / 3D Prize £500 – sponsored by Jason & Susan Lewis (Trustee)
  • Local Artist Prize of a 2 week exhibition at EFA Gallery in Birmingham
  • Visitor’s Choice Prize – Overnight stay for 2 with dinner at Grill by James Martin at The Lygon Arms Hotel in Broadway

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

The main entry deadline was 6pm Monday 28th August 2023.

Late entry deadline 6pm 1st September 2023. We understand some of you need a little extra time!

ENTRIES HAVE NOW CLOSED

Entrants will be informed on Friday 8th September (by email) whether their entry has made the final 150 and exclusive selling exhibition.

Note: We run the art competition annually now, and at a different time to the festival, given it has become such a big event in its own right. Photography now has its own separate competition, so is no longer included in the art competition.

Artists’ work that is selected for the final judging stage will form an exclusive selling exhibition at Bretforton Theatrebarn from 6th-15th October 2023, 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.

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)
  • Unlimited entries are permitted, however only one entry per artist can progress to the finals and exhibition (to increase the number of artists represented in the exhibition).
  • You can submit multiple entries for the same prize category
  • The maximum size for all framed work is 1 metre x 1 metre (to include any frame) – not applicable to sculpture
  • To qualify for the Local Artist prize you must reside in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire or the West Midlands.
  • 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.
For the 150 finalists that make it through to the exhibition, handing in will take place at Bretforton Theatrebarn (WR11 7JH) on Tuesday 3rd October from 10am- 4pm.

There will be an exclusive Private View of the exhibition for prizewinners, festival VIPs, judges, Benefactors and sponsors on the opening evening of Friday 6th October from 5-7pm. Artists who make it to the final 150 exhibition of works are permitted to bring 1 guest to the PV.
Handing back days for unsold pieces will be Sunday 15th October 4-5:30pm and Monday 16th October 10am-12pm.
For those pieces that make it through to the finalist exhibition:
  • All work to be insured by the entrant
  • All work should be submitted ready to hang with a wire/string/hanging on the back (no mirror plates please) or with a plinth
  • Each work should be clearly labelled with name, title, medium and price on the back or underneath.
For any further queries please email competition@broadwayartsfestival.com or leave a message on 01386 898387.
Competition Judges

Frequently Asked Questions

Entries must be a maximum of 1 m x 1m (to include the frame).

No, we ask that entries are complete at the time of submission as the first stage of judging is done via the image submitted at the time of entry. These cannot be updated at a later date.

In sort, yes.

Broadway Arts Festival is an arts charity and the cost of holding and curating the competition and exhibition is significant.

Any monies left over after costs go towards the running of the festival, our student bursary scheme and schools outreach programme which pays for workshops in schools and trips.

Entry fees have remained the same in 2023 as they were in 2022.

Sadly not. The entry process is online in order to reduce admin burden and cost as we are a charity.

Entry fee payment needs to be via credit or debit card when completing the entry form. See the bottom of the form.

In short, no. This creates too much admin burden and can cause confusion and errors in the system.

In short, no. This creates too much admin burden and can cause confusion and errors in the system.

Please note:

35% of the sale price of sold work goes to defray the costs of curating the competition and supporting the charitable work of the Broadway Arts Festival. The remaining 65% is paid to the artist via bank transfer once the sale has been processed.

To withdraw an entry please email competition@broadwayartsfestival.com and provide your name, email address and entry title stating that you would like it to be withdrawn. Unfortunately we cannot refund your entry fee.

The competition is open to anyone age 16 or over.

There is not a children’s competition, but do look out for the many events and activities for the younger generation at the next festival.

For those pieces that make it through to the finalist exhibition, all work must be insured by the entrant.

You can ship your artwork to the exhibition organiser at her home address (not Theatrebarn), but it MUST arrive on the 27th September between 9am and 6pm.

However if your work does not sell, you must arrange for collection. We do not package and ship.

Apologies, but no.

Yes, however if you can supply a plinth for sculpture or small easel for paintings, that would be much appreciated.

We will notify you by phone if your entry sells or if there is an offer placed on your work. We will check we have your phone number at hand in.
35% of the sale price of sold work goes to defray the costs of curating the competition and supporting the charitable work of the Broadway Arts Festival.
You will need to email your bank details to finance@broadwayartsfestival.com so we can transfer the remaining 65% directly into your bank account. You will then be emailed a record of your sale.

If your entry does not sell (i.e. if you don’t hear from us), or is not for sale, please collect your artwork between 4-5:30pm on Sunday 15th October or between 10am-12pm on Monday 16th October.

Apologies, but no.

Unsold work needs to be collected from the venue between 4-5:30pm on Sunday October 15th or between 10am-12pm on Monday 16th October.

Bretforton Theatrebarn

2023 Exhibition Venue

The exhibition will be open daily from 6-15 October 11am-4pm, there is ample free parking at the venue.

This year we will be inviting our finalists to apply to demonstrate live during the exhibition. There will be 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. More info to follow.