Skipton Town Hall are seeking submissions from emerging and early career Yorkshire artists for an exciting upcoming summer exhibition, to spotlight a group of artists in our Exhibition Gallery. We are looking for emerging and early career artists who are final year students, or recently graduated students (past three years) in a creative degree or alternative learning programme, or are within the first three years of developing their practice. Applicants must be either living in, studying in, or from Yorkshire. Particular preference will be given to those studying in, living in or from North Yorkshire.

Grade II listed Skipton Town Hall is a modern cultural hub for the market town of Skipton and its surrounding, largely rural, hinterland. The venue is home to an Exhibition Gallery, Craven Museum, historic Concert Hall, Visitor Information Centre and community spaces which all work in unison to offer a range of cultural activities that inspire, inform and entertain!

We take immense pride in recently earning recognition as the Kids in Museums ‘Family Friendly Museum 2023’ and ‘Best Accessible Museum 2023’. 

Our Exhibition Gallery is free entry to visitors and shows an exciting changing programme of exhibitions from local and national artists and crafts people. We also showcase community projects and our own museum collection. To find out more about Skipton Town Hall and the Exhibition Gallery please go to: https://skiptontownhall.co.uk

Skipton Town Hall is run by the North Yorkshire Council Cultural Services Team.

The exhibition will be open between mid June – early September 2024.

Exhibitors are selected by a panel who judge independently and together. 

Skipton Town Hall will provide:

• FREE exhibition space in a white cube gallery
• Curation and organisation of the exhibition, including installation of artworks
• Editing and production of artwork labels
• If you have never participated in an exhibition before we are happy to support you through the process
• Technical expertise and equipment for the installation of the exhibition 
• Plinths and display equipment where possible
• Exhibition webpage on www.skiptontownhall.co.uk
• Production of promotional materials for use online, on social media, in email newsletters, and in print publications.  

•  Skipton Town Hall will be responsible for insurance from the date and time of delivery to the Gallery (as evidenced by the signed Delivery Sheet), whilst it remains in situ on display and available for viewing by the general public, to the time of collection by the artist.  

To be eligible for this opportunity you must must be either living in, studying in, or from Yorkshire AND one of the following:

• Final year student in a creative degree or alternative arts education
• Recently graduated student (past three years) in a creative degree or alternative arts education
• Within the first three years of developing their artistic practice

Key dates: 

Deadline to apply 11.59pm GMT Wednesday 2nd May 2024

Selected artists will be notified by Tuesday 7th May 2024

Delivery of artwork to Skipton Town Hall during week commencing 3rd June 2024 (dates to be confirmed with selected artists) 

Collection of artwork from Skipton Town Hall 5th, 6th and 7th September 2024

By applying to this open call you must acknowledge and agree to the following: 

Artists must meet the application criteria detailed above.

Each entry will be judged on your image(s) alone. It is therefore very important to represent your work as best you can. 

Due to the volume of entries, we apologise that it is impossible to give individual feedback on unselected work. As with any ‘open submission’ exhibition, it is possible that your work may not be selected. Due to limitations eg. amount of temporary exhibition space, we won't be able to select all artists/artwork. Skipton Town Hall is unable to enter into a discussion with individual artists about the reasons their work(s) has not been selected. The decision of the selection panel is final.

Artists will be responsible, at their sole cost, for the transportation, insurance and packing of the art work and any ancillary equipment to and from Skipton Town Hall. 

Be responsible for delivering and collecting the selected artwork to and from Skipton Town Hall on the stated dates. Please ensure you are aware of these dates before applying. Any variation from these dates must be agreed with Skipton Town Hall in advance. Failure to meet these arrangements may result in work not being exhibited.

Prepare selected artwork for display – eg. wall pieces must be framed or in a fit state to hang/install. 

Be responsible for the packing of the artwork and any ancillary equipment when bringing to, and collecting from Skipton Town Hall

If selected artworks are offered for sale, any work which is sold will be subject to a charge of 30% commission payable to Skipton Town Hall, which will be deducted from the price paid by the buyer. Further details will be discussed with selected artists who wish to have their artwork for sale. 

If your work requires display equipment such as plinths etc - please let us know if you are able to provide this as we have limited display equipment and it will enable us to plan the display space appropriately. 

If your work involves tech including speakers, screens or media players - please let us know if you are able to provide this, as we have limited access to this equipment. 

Skipton Town Hall reserve the right to safeguard the artwork from damage and to protect the public through use of barriers or secure fixings etc. 

Skipton Town Hall’s curation of chosen artworks and position of where they are displayed is final.

Unfortunately we are unable to assist artists with costs towards making their artwork ready for exhibiting eg. printing costs 

Please note that the Exhibition Gallery does not have a member of staff situated permanently in the space. The Gallery is accessed by entry to the Visitor Services area of the building and is situated upstairs on the first floor.

Image Gallery:

A Yorkshire Vision by Kitty North 

North Yorkshire Open Studios showcase

Transient Treasures by Ekaterina Sheath

Contemporary Craft: Threads of Tradition 

Soundscapes by Ben Crick and Michaela French

Echoes: Material memories of inhabited space by Barbara Greene

SGHS showcase 

Skipton Town Hall