Free Open Call! Attention artists! Ilkley Manor House and Ilkley Arts are delighted to announce an exciting opportunity. An Open Exhibition exploring the theme of 'CONNECTION' and building on the success of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2023. Submissions for this exhibition are FREE!

Submissions are invited from artists in response to the word ‘CONNECTION’ and all that it may conjure. ‘Connection’ might be social, emotional, mechanical, historic, linguistic or philosophical.

From human connectedness, kinship and alliances, to physical bonds, purely sensory associations and intellectual connections made in the search for meaning in a whole variety of fields of study, ‘connection’ as a concept is worthy of our consideration.

In this spirit, The Manor House Ilkley and Ilkley Arts are working together to produce an Open Exhibition in 2025 exploring this very theme and building on the success of the Ilkley Arts Open Exhibition 2023.   }

The selected artworks will be exhibited from 6th September to 12th October 2025 in Ilkley Manor House as part of the 2025 programme to support Bradford’s 2025 UK City of Culture event.

We are looking for wide and varied interpretations, literal and metaphorical, drawing on the poetic, scientific, linguistic, historic, political, social and purely personal associations of this term.

The theme is set simply as a starting point and to assist in putting together a cohesive exhibition. We are open to submissions from artists working collectively or collaboratively, as well as individually.

Submissions will be considered in any of the following media: painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, artists books, text, textile art, mobiles, live performance, assemblages, collage and work made from found materials or objects.   

We are unfortunately unable to consider sound or video work at this time.

Artists are invited to submit one artwork on the theme of 'Connection'.

The selection panel will be made up of a number of experienced exhibiting artists, gallery owners, curators, art critics and collectors.

Submission for this exhibition is FREE. If your work is selected, there is a participation fee of £40.   

The submission process is organised in this way so that it is accessible and affordable for all artists to apply, without the risk of wasting money in the event their submission is unsuccessful. 

HOW TO SUBMIT

Key dates and the procedure for submission are set out in detail below.

Key Dates

Friday, 30 May 2025 - SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Early July 2025 - Artists to be informed of judging panel’s decision

Friday 5 September 2025 6 pm – 8 pm - Private view for invited guests

Sat 6th Sept – Sun 12th Oct 2025 - Exhibition open to the public at weekends 11 am - 4 pm

Please take a moment to review the Terms of Submission to ensure your artwork meets the eligibility criteria.

TERMS OF SUBMISSION 

1. General 

• 1.1 Submission implies acceptance of these terms and conditions as final and binding. 
• 1.2 Submission must be made via online submission only via CuratorSpace. Submissions in other forms will not be counted. 
• 1.3 Neither Ilkley Manor House Trust nor Ilkley Arts can respond to individual questions regarding submissions.
• 1.4 Any decision by Ilkley Manor House Trust in respect of all matters concerning this Open Call will be final. 

2. Submission Process 

• 2.1 Submissions must be received by midnight on the closing date (30th May 2025). Any submissions received after this will not be counted 
• 2.2 Any work which comprises more than one part must be clearly identified as one work on the Submission Form 
• 2.3 No fee is payable for submission
• 2.4 Selected Artists will be required to pay a non-refundable Participation Fee of £40 within seven days of notification of selection and no later than 18 July 2025.
• 2.5 No responsibility is accepted for entries which are lost, corrupted, incomplete or for any failure to capture entry information. 

3. Eligible entries 

• 3.1 Submissions are open to artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, artists books, text and poetry, textile art, mobiles, live performance, assemblages, collage and work made from found materials or objects 
• 3.2 Submissions should be representative of the artist’s current practice; it is recommended that any works submitted should have been made within the last three years 
• 3.3 Reproductions of original works (including but not limited to giclee prints) cannot be submitted 
• 3.4 Submissions will be accepted from the UK only. Artists are required to have a UK bank account in order for any money from the sale of work to be transferred to them 
• 3.5 Submitting artists must be 18 or over 

4. Restrictions 

• 4.1 The following are inadmissible and will not be put forward for consideration by the Selection Panel: 
• 4.1.1 any work which exceeds 244cm on its longest dimension or which exceeds 50kg in weight when packed 
• 4.1.2 any work which contains noxious or toxic substances or substances with flammability below 50°C 
• 4.1.3 any work requiring use of a power supply (including but not limited to film work, sound work, headsets and light boxes) 
• 4.1.4 any interactive work that requires physical handling
  4.1.5 any work which might pose a risk to the public or to artwork handlers 
• 4.2 The Manor House reserves the right to rule any Submission as inadmissible before proceeding to the Selection Panel 

5. Photography of work 

• 5.1 Artists must include at least one photograph of the complete artwork including border and / or frame in their Submission and may include up to three photographs 
• 5.2 Artwork must be photographed straight on with no obstructions or covering 
• 5.3 For 3D work it is recommended that photographs of the work be taken from more than one angle 
• 5.4 High resolution images are recommended as low-quality images may hinder chances of success 
• 5.5 File names must include the name of the Artist and the title of the work 

6. Sale of work 

• 6.1 If selected artists’ artworks are offered for sale, any work which is sold will be subject to a charge of 30% commission payable to Ilkley Manor House Trust which will be deducted from the price paid by the buyer 
• 6.2 The price included on the submission form is the total price payable by the purchaser and includes the commission and taxes for those artists who are VAT registered 
• 6.3 If work is not intended for sale, it should be marked NFS on the submission form

7. Intellectual Property 

• 7.1 By submitting work, the artist confirms that they hold all intellectual rights to the work.
• 7.2 The copyright for submitted artworks remains with the Artist at all times.
• 7.3 By submitting work, the Artist consents to their work being shared by Ilkley Arts and Ilkley Manor House Trust on their respective social media platforms and for other promotional purposes. Full credit and links to artists profiles will be given where possible
• 7.4 By submitting work, the Artist consents to Ilkley Arts and Ilkley Manor House Trust publishing their artwork on their respective websites for publicity around the exhibition 

8. Suspension and Amendment 

• 8.1 Ilkley Manor House Trust reserves the right to suspend, cancel or modify the Open Exhibition at any time and for any reason 
• 8.2 Ilkley Manor House Trust reserves the right to amend any of the Key Dates at any time.