Our final exhibition for 2023 is upon us, the English Riviera Winter Open 2023.

If you've exhibited in our open exhibitions before you know the drill, but for newcomers, our annual, seasonal opens are the biggest, and most ambitious visual arts showcases in South Devon, as we turn the walls of our high street gallery into a tapestry of original art from creatives all over the country.

This year, as part of our Summer Open, we introduced our showcase values which guide the curation of our open exhibitions. These are:

• Diversity and Variety - we take a range of traditional and contemporary practice, selecting works that result in a showcase rich in media, subject and style;

• Originality and Innovation - this isn't an exhibition that just "plays it safe", we love traditional work, but equally we want to share work with audiences that they may not find anywhere else;

• Quality and Talent - we select the best to create a showcase for our audience where they can guarantee they'll be taking away collectible, original work that can't be found anywhere else.

Artizan Collective CIC is a not for profit Social Enterprise dedicated to the advancement of arts and culture in Torbay, supporting wider engagement and greater accessibility to arts for our communities, through the provision of opportunities, resources, spaces and networks for creatives of all practices in a sustainable and resilient manner.

Currently hosted at Fleet Walk in the Artizan Collective Gallery, the Collective is providing a vibrant creative hub delivering opportunities for artists and audiences living and working in the Bay, as well as contributing to the English Riviera's cultural tourism offer. The venue currently runs a year-round visual arts programme which supports artists of all disciplines and experiences, including students and emerging artists, by creating affordable exhibition opportunities, awards and bursaries. In addition, a programme of community workshops, artist studios, and production spaces are in development in partnership with other independent creatives and local cultural organisations.

Through this activity we aim to improve the perception of Torbay's cultural offer, showcasing and connecting the creative stakeholders contributing to the sector and signposting audiences from this prominent location, to the areas hidden gems.

The organisation currently consists of two directors and a small group of key stakeholders and partners who support and deliver work, as well as an invested community of artists and creatives. Artizan Gallery supports the work of Artizan Collective CIC through the sharing of resources and promotional activities.

Submission Information

Please read the below information carefully for full opportunity details.

Opportunities:

• This is a selective exhibition, your fee is paid on submission but will be refunded if you don't have work accepted

• Up to 8 works can be submitted

• Works will have the opportunity to either be:

  • Selected (these will be guaranteed to hang) or

  • reserved (these will be requested for delivery and stored on the shop floor for audiences to view; they may also be hung if space permits at our discretion)

• All successful artists will be entitled to supply, in addition to their accepted work:

  • Up to three mounted and wrapped works for browsers or

  • Up to three additional small for sale products such as catalogues or artbooks, and

  • Greetings cards; either 5 copies of 3 designs or up to 15 original greetings cards

• All selected works will be showcased for a period of 6 weeks as part of Summer on the English Riviera

• Exposure in the English Riviera’s premier selective exhibition gallery

• Opportunity for commercial sales of work

• Features in exhibition print and digital promotional material delivered via the channels of the exhibition curators and partner organisations

• Long-term exposure on the exhibition digital hub including micro-profile and the opportunity for additional features

• Selected artists may be recommended to our partner services to have their work featured in additional online listings

• Exhibition Awards including the English Riviera Award (selected by a guest judge) and the Audience Favourite Award.

Work Sizes, Types and Dimensions

• Works are classified as either:

  • 2D Wall Display

  • 3D Surface Display (not exceeding a height of 60cm)

  • 3D Floor Display

Works of any medium are accepted

• 2D Works:

  • A single 2D entry will not exceed 60cm in any direction inclusive of framing

  • 2D entries exceeding 60cm but not exceeding 1.5m in any direction can be submitted as two entries

• 3D Works:

  • A single 3D entry will not exceed 80cm in any dimension

  • 3D entries exceeding 80cm but not exceeding 1.5m in any direction can be submitted as two entries

  • Small 3D works may be submitted as a series and be counted as one entry but you must contact the gallery before making your submission to confirm if your work qualifies for this

  • Jewellery and small items should be provided with secure display equipment and artists should consult with the gallery to ensure they are making sufficient provisions prior to submission.

  • A 3D work that is wall display should be submitted as a 2D Work

  • Where specific display equipment is required this must be specified

  • You may be requested to supply plinths or make additional provisions for display of your work where these are non-standard

Dates

Deadline for Entries: Thursday 19th October, Midday 

Confirmation of Entries: Thursday 19th October, Midnight

Start Date: Sunday 5th November, 11am

End Date: Sunday 24th December

Launch Date: Saturday 4th November, 18:00-20:00

Delivery Week: 20th October, 09:00 - 29th October, 16:00 (bookable on acceptance)

Hang Week: 29th October - 4th November (artists are not required but should be prepared to receive work queries during this period)

Fees

• Exhibition Fees: £30 (payable at the point of submission, refunded if not selected)

• Donation: £5 (optional, non-refundable)

• Commission Fees: 35%

Payments can be made at the below link once you have made your submission:
https://www.art-hub.co.uk/product-page/ersopayment

All fees go towards Artizan Collective's continuing work to deliver opportunities for artists in the South West.

Venue Address

Artizan Collective Gallery
Unit 5 Fleet Walk
74 Fleet Street
Torquay
TQ2 5EB

Full terms and conditions of entry: www.art-hub.co.uk/exhibitorsterms