The 2022 Open Art Competition & Selling Exhibition
Our annual open art competition is open to any artist, in any medium including painting, sculpture, drawing, textiles, ceramics & printmaking.
We have new prize categories, prizes, sponsors and judges in 2022.
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 Galleries
- Outdoor Sculpture Prize £500 sponsored by Broadway Tower
- Local Artist Prize of a 2 week exhibition sponsored by Eaton Fine Art in Solihull*
- Visitor’s Choice Prize £500 sponsored by Broadway Museum & Art Gallery
We have a panel of esteemed judges, including category judges from the sponsors. Find out more about our 2022 judges
Artists’ work that is selected for the final judging stage will form an exclusive selling exhibition from 30th September – 9th October 2022 at the stunning Bretforton Theatrebarn in the beautiful, light buildings surrounding the garden courtyard, open daily from 12 noon to 4pm. Entry to the exhibition is free with no need to book. Outdoor sculpture will be displayed in the lawned garden courtyard.
The main entry deadline is 8pm 19th August 2022.
Late entry deadline 8pm 26th August 2022. We understand some of you need a little extra time!
We are launching a new online entry process this year (click the button below). All entries must be received through the website. We no longer accept entries by email or post.
Terms:
- There is no theme to adhere to
- Anyone over the age of 16 can enter
- Entry fees are £18 for the first piece entered and £14 for subsequent entries. Late entries received the week after the main deadline will incur an entry fee of £25 per piece.
- All entries qualify for the main prize (any medium)
- Unlimited entries 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 indoor artwork is 1 metre x 1 metre (to include any frame)
- 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 30% 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. (Note this has been reduced from 35% in 2021).
*Prize for Best Entry from a Local Artist: Amy McLelland and Eaton Fine Art are proud to sponsor the prize for ‘Best Entry from a Local Artist’ with the prize of two weeks of coveted exhibition space inside their two-floor popular high street gallery in Solihull. The winning artist will have several pieces listed for sale online, social media marketing campaigns carried out to promote their work, and most importantly, specially curated display space on the gallery walls for up to two weeks. To qualify for this prize, artists must reside in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire or the West Midlands.
Please note there will be a separate photography competition coming up in 2023, so please hold onto any photography entries for now and submit next year instead.
The preliminary judging by panel will be via electronic images, so to maximise your chance of selection please submit as good an image as possible on your online entry form.
Entrants will be notified via email at lunchtime on 2nd September whether their pieces have made it through to the final 150 and the exclusive selling exhibition.
Prize winners will be announced on Friday 30th September as the exhibition opens.
Entry Fees:
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Entries must be a maximum of 1 m x 1m (to include the frame), apart from outdoor sculptures.
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, no.
Just indicate your entry is not for sale on the form by clicking “Not for sale”.
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.
Entry fees have increased slightly in 2022 in line with increases in our costs.
Sadly not. We have moved the entry process online this year in order to reduce admin burden 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:
30% 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 (a reduction from 35% in 2021). The remaining 70% 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.
This year we are opening the competition up to young people age 16+.
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 in June 2023.
The exhibition venue:
- is locked when not manned and has locked access gates and a private drive
- has outdoor security lighting
- is fully alarmed when not occupied and the alarm systems are monitored (security & fire) 24/7.
You can ship your artwork to the exhibition venue, but it MUST arrive on the hand in date (27th September between 10am 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.
If your entry sells:
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.
30% 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 (a reduction from 35% in 2021).
You will need to email your bank details to finance@broadwayartsfestival.com so we can transfer the remaining 70% 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 4-6pm on Sunday 9th October or between 10am-1pm on Monday 10th October.
Apologies, but no.
Unsold work needs to be collected from Theatrebarn in Bretforton between 4-6pm on Sunday October 9th or between 10am-1pm on Monday 10th October.
The 2021 Open Art Competition Exhibition at Theatrebarn
