Entry date: 15/3/26 by email
Open Call:
This Open Call welcomes all Visual Artists who live and work in Dorset. Whether you’re emerging, mid-career, or established, don’t let the deadline pass you by – apply, connect, and put your work out there now as part of Dorset’s thriving artist community. Dorset artists are invited to participate through this, the first of our annual open call competitions dedicated to discovering emerging voices and prompting critical engagement and artistic growth. We aim to create a platform where artists at any stage of their career can showcase their work, share their perspectives, and engage with a supportive art community.
The Prize:
Some 30 – 35 artists will be selected to show one piece of work each during the exhibition, which runs from 25/4/26 to 7/5/26. The judges will also award a main prize of £250, and two smaller prizes of £75. Everyone accepted is a finalist, with shortlisted for prizes.
Tony Viney:
Tony Viney purchased Sandy Hill to preserve it for the community. It was his idea to turn it into a charity. He was a passionate and visionary supporter of arts in Purbeck, and believed in providing opportunities for local people to experience exciting creative work, whether that be ground breaking or of established high quality.
This award is presented in memory of his contribution to the local community.
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from professional and amateur artists and makers living and/or working or studying in Dorset (aged over 16 on 1st February 2026), regardless of previous exhibition experience – we will be selecting successful candidates based on the strength of their work. All ages and career stages are welcome, with an emphasis on emerging and mid-career artists.
Fees:
The Tony Viney Open Art Award is free to apply, with only the successful artists paying a fee of £15 which will help support this first year’s prizes. Successful artists should pay their fee by 20th April 2026 at the latest. Please reach out to us if this is a barrier for you.
How to apply?
You can submit up to three works for the competition, although only one can be selected for the exhibition. You may include previously exhibited work, but recently produced works will be prioritised. Please check limitations on size below.
Please apply by email (see below) with the following information:
- Artist Name
- Contact email and mobile
- A short CV or artist statement of up to 150 words (if you wish)
- Website/Social media
Then for each piece of work submitted, up to a maximum of 3:
- Media
- Work title
- Work description
- Overall dimensions (including frame) in cms
- Purchase price (or mark NFS if not for sale)
- Up to 3 jpegs of each piece, suitable to be viewed full screen on a laptop. If you can, please rename image files to include your name.
Installation pieces comprising multiple smaller works, diptychs and triptychs will be considered as a single artwork.
Only one application with up to 3 pieces of work will be accepted per artist.
Please put TONY VINEY OPEN CALL in the email subject line, or your entry may be missed. Applications must be received by 10pm on 15/3/26.
Selection Notification:
The submission deadline is 10pm on 15/3/26. Successful artists will be contacted after the submission deadline, by 5/4/26. Unsuccessful artists will be notified as soon as possible.
The Work:
In this inaugural year, the Tony Viney Open Art Award accepts submissions from any chosen medium including but not limited to mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, will be accepted, as long as the work was completed in the last five years. We do not have the facilities to show digital or video work this year. *Works generated by AI will not be considered.
All work must be complete at the time of submission. Any work which varies from the original piece or size submitted may be rejected.
The selection panel – Melissa Viney, Richard Jeffery, Dominic Shepherd and Zara Saganic – will choose up to 35 pieces for the exhibition.
Wall Mounted work
Work can be any shape but should take up no more than 80x80cm of wall space. Wall mounted 3D work should project no more than 8cms from the wall. Please give us the completed size of your work, including any frames or mounts. All work should be ready to hang with mirror plates or hanging wire, and can be framed or unframed. Please be clear about how your work hangs. If you use mirror plates they will look best painted white.
Sculpture and 3-D
Free standing 3-D and sculptural work should be no bigger than 50 x 50 x 100 cms. Please give us the completed size of your work, including any base. All work should arrive ready to display on a plinth or a suitable and acceptable alternative you provide. Please contact us if your method of display is unusual. Please be clear about how your work stands or is displayed.
Please note that, although there is an upper size restriction, we only have a limited capacity to accept larger works, and smaller works are much more likely to be successful. Works must not exceed 18kg in weight for floor standing, 10Kgs for wall mounted.
Images:
You may submit up to 3 images of each piece of work: one image to show the whole piece and a further two images to show details if required. All images must be in clear JPEG format suitable to be viewed full screen on a laptop. If you can, please rename image files to include your name. You may provide a short description of no more than 150 words which may be displayed alongside the work.
Delivery/Collection:
Selected artists are asked to deliver their work in person to Sandy Hill Arts between 10 and 4 on 21/4/26. Please let us know if you cannot make that date – we will endeavour to find an alternative delivery slot. Work should be clearly marked with artist name, media, price – a stuck on label or swing tag works well.
Please plan to collect any unsold work between 10 and 4 on 8th or 9th May 2026.
You will be responsible for delivering and collecting work from Sandy Hill Arts. We will not agree to accept work by post or carrier, or return it that way.
The Exhibition:
The exhibition will run from 25/4/26 to 7/5/26 in our two exhibition spaces – Room 14 and the Cottage. The exhibition will start with an invited Private View, which sees artists, collectors, and art lovers come together to discover the work on display. Room 14 and the Cottage will be open to the public between 11 and 4 every day of the exhibition, plus any evening events that might be organised. The space will be invigilated throughout by Sandy Hill staff and volunteers, but we welcome any help you can provide. Sandy Hill Arts has Public Liability cover, but will not insure your work during this exhibition – please arrange this yourself if you need to. The exhibition will be hung by Sandy Hill Arts.
Work will be offered for sale during the exhibition with a commission charge of 20%. Sandy Hill Arts will process sales, and monies will be paid to the artist by BACs within two weeks of the end of the exhibition, on receipt of a suitable invoice.
Publicity:
The Tony Viney Award Exhibition will be publicised through our usual channels. We believe this new Award commemorating a prominent local artist and community figure will attract a lot of local press and local radio interest. We share news of exhibitions and events on our social media and in the local press, and through leafleting; the exhibition will also figure prominently in our regular email newsletter. Our Instagram @sandyhillarts has a steadily growing following, and we also share posts on Facebook and YouTube.
We receive hundreds of visitors during an exhibition and would typically expect over 300 – 400 visitors during a 2 week exhibition. We will launch the exhibition with invited guests at a special event – our private view events can attract up to 100 visitors.
Accessibility:
Our Room 14 exhibition space is on flat ground so is accessible to wheelchair users – though the surface outside from the car park is gravel. The Cottage access is by two low steps. We endeavour to have at least one accessible loo on site during our events and exhibition season. Please contact us if you have any questions about access.
Please get in touch if you want clarification or need assistance with the application process. By applying, you confirm your agreement to the terms and conditions set out here, and agree your images and details may be used in any promotion for the Open Art Award. We will not share your details with any other organisation, or use for any other purpose than this competition.
Please apply to opencall@sandyhillarts.co.uk – submissions must be received by 10pm on 15/3/26