Hastings Open 2026 – call for artists

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, in partnership with The blackShed Gallery, is proud to announce the return of Hastings Open – the flagship exhibition it founded in 2020 to celebrate the extraordinary creative talent across the South East. Artists from across the region are invited to submit their work for the 2026 exhibition.  

Artists working across a range of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, print, photography, textiles, digital, mixed media, and video, are encouraged to apply. The opportunity is open to artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience living in the South East of England.  

The exhibition aims to show a wide range of work that reflects different ideas, styles, stories, and experiences.  

The overall winner will receive a solo exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery in 2028/29. The museum will also consider acquiring the artist’s work for its permanent collection. 

Artists aged 16 to 25 can also be considered for a paid traineeship. This offers practical experience working with both Hastings Museum & Art Gallery and The blackShed Gallery. 

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to vote for their favourite artwork. The piece with the most votes will win a £500 People’s Choice Award. 

Kasey Ball-Scott, Collections & Engagement Curator at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Hastings Open back in 2026. A highlight of our arts calendar since 2020, the Open exhibition offers what I hope will be a meaningful opportunity for artists to share their work with new audiences and be part of the town’s creative legacy. We can’t wait to see what this year’s entries will bring.”  

Lorna Ough, blackShed Curator, added: “We’re so excited to be partnering with Hastings Museum on the Hastings Open this year and working with such a fantastic selection of panellists! I can’t wait to see the breadth of artwork that comes in.” 

The artwork will be selected in a two-phase process by a panel of judges. Artists must first submit a high-quality digital image of their work through the online form for an initial review. Successful entrants from this first round will then be invited to bring their artwork to the museum, where the panel will make their final exhibition selection. 

The closing date is 11pm on Sunday 19 July 2026. Artists will be told the results of the first stage by Monday 31 August 2026. 

For full details and to apply, please visit the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery website.