Bankley’s annual Open Call exhibition returns! We are excited to invite submissions for our headline show taking place in October. Bankley Open 2026 – Call for Submissions

Bankley’s annual Open Call exhibition returns this October, and we’re inviting artists from across the UK and beyond to submit work for inclusion in our headline group show.

We welcome entries from artists at any stage of their career, whether emerging, mid-career, or established.

We are open to all creative disciplines and encourage submissions from a wide range of practices.

This includes traditional forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and photography, as well as contemporary and interdisciplinary approaches like performance, installation, gaming, virtual or augmented reality, and sound art.

Approximately 15 artists will be selected by a panel of judges made up of respected curators and professionals actively working within the contemporary arts sector.

Since our inception, our judging panels have included individuals affiliated with well known institutions in the UK.

The First Prize includes a £300 cash award and a solo exhibition at Bankley Studios & Gallery in 2027.

Entry Guidelines:

• Submit up to two artworks, with up to four images per piece
  
  
• Include: artist statement, title, medium, year, and size for each work
  
  
• Entry fee: £10 (non-refundable; submissions without payment will not be considered)

Key Dates:

• Submission deadline: 3 September (midnight)
• Selection notifications: 14 September
• Artwork drop-off: 18 - 27 September (Location - Bankley Studios and Gallery or agreed manchester location)
• Exhibition preview & awards: 9 October, 6–9 pm
• Exhibition dates: 9–25 October
• Artwork collection: 27 October - 1 November

Payment:

After submitting your first artwork, you will then be directed to make a payment. 

Since the submission fee allows you up to 2 submissions, you will then be able to make a further submission. You can do this by clicking again on the 'Make a submission' tab.

About us:

Bankley Gallery and Studios is artist-led, cooperatively run and a well-loved part of the Manchester creative scene, having been in the same building for 30 years!

We currently have 37 artists working out of the building - making work from installation, sculpture and painting to printmaking and photography (and everything in between). 

The programmed exhibitions in our gallery have showcased creatives from around the world; we provide an affordable white-wall space which is regularly hired by students and emerging artists, and our popular Bankley Open Call exhibition, which is always a resounding success, running since 2018.  

We have over 9.5 K followers on Instagram.

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