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Exeter Contemporary Open 2026

    Sub­mis­sions are now invit­ed from con­tem­po­rary visu­al artists work­ing across the UK for up to three art­works for a £10 entry fee. Dead­line 7 June

    Closing: 23:59 07/06/26
    Fee: £10 fee includes up to 3x artworks
    Organisation: Exeter Phoenix
    Region: Region-wide
    Address: Exeter Phoenix, Brad­ninch Place, Gandy St, Exeter EX4 3LS
    Contact Name: Matt Burrows
    Email: art@exeterphoenix.org.uk
    Website: exeter​con​tem​po​rary​open​.com

    Exeter Contemporary Open is an annual open submission exhibition for UK based artists, established in 2006 and hosted by Exeter Phoenix, a busy, multi-artform venue and contemporary art space situated in Exeter’s historic city centre. The exhibition aims to provide an important national platform for contemporary visual art with an emphasis on supporting emerging talent alongside more established artists.

    The Exhibition

    The exhibition will run from 11 September – 31 October 2026 and is open to contemporary visual artists working in any media including painting, sculpture, photography, print, drawing, video, mixed and digital media. It will be staged across Exeter Phoenix’s two beautiful gallery spaces located either side of the main entrance foyer.

    Submissions

    For a £10 entry fee artists may submit between 1-3 recent works that reflect their current practice. The selection panel will be looking out for the extraordinary, intriguing, unusual, thought provoking, challenging or downright beautiful and particularly seek work that reflects current directions, themes and concerns in contemporary practice.