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.

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

We had 580 entries from across the UK in 2024. Take a look at the Prize Winners and those Highly Commended

This year we have increased the prize pot and added a new prize category for mixed media.

Prizes:

• Main prize (any medium): £1000 – sponsored by Wychavon District Council
• Main prize runner up (any medium): £250 art materials voucher sponsored by Cotswold Art Supplies
• Visitor’s Choice Prize – an overnight stay for 2 with dinner at Grill by James Martin at The Lygon Arms Hotel in Broadway
• Painting in Oils or Acrylics Prize £500 – sponsored by Priory Gallery in Broadway
• Watercolour Prize £500 – sponsored by John Noott Galleries (Founder’s Prize)
• Sculpture / 3D Prize £500 – sponsored by Susan & Jason Lewis (Trustee)
• Mixed Media Prize – sponsored by Sharon Stirling & Mark Ward (Trustee)
• Local Artist Prize of a solo weekend show – sponsored by / at Broadway Contemporary Gallery
• Best entry from a new entrant £500 – sponsored by the Painter’s Company Charities
• Best Landscape Entry Prize of a weekend show – sponsored by/at The White Gallery in Chipping Campden

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 26th September-5th October 2025, 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.

Entries will open on 1st May through a link to an online form that will appear on the competition page.

Broadway Arts Festival is an arts charity, so all the funds raised go towards their outreach projects with local schools, bursaries for local university arts students and the next festival.

Cast your vote for Visitors’ Choice!

We also have a Visitors’ Choice prize. So do cast your vote for your favourite entry when you visit (one vote permitted per visitor). The prize winner will be announced and informed on the afternoon of Sunday 5th October!

Note: We run the competition and exhibition of finalists apart from the festival as it is such a big event in its own right.