The Mannington Nature Award celebrates artistic responses to landscape and the natural world. Open to artists working in any medium, it invites submissions that explore our relationship with nature, place and environment.

Established in 2026, the award is generously supported by the Ellis family, owners of Mannington Hall and Wolterton Hall. The award reflects their longstanding connection with Holt Festival and their commitment to supporting creativity in the region.

Alongside the restoration of Mannington Hall, the wider Mannington estate continues to develop as a place where landscape, nature and community come together. This award seeks to celebrate those same values. Artists are invited to respond to themes of landscape, nature and the environment, interpreted in its broadest sense.

Submissions may include work in any medium, from painting, drawing, printmaking and photography to sculpture and other three-dimensional forms. By encouraging a wide range of interpretations, the award aims to highlight the many ways artists engage with the beauty, complexity and changing nature of the landscapes we inhabit.

Shortlisted works will be exhibited at Mannington Hall, a medieval moated house set within gardens, woodland and farmland that have evolved over many centuries. The setting reflects the spirit of the award, with a focus on landscape, season and the rhythms of the natural world. The judges will be looking for work that demonstrates strong artistic quality alongside a genuine engagement with nature and the environment.

The judges will select a shortlist of works to be exhibited, from which one artist will be selected as the recipient of the award of £2,000.

Judges

Veronica Sekules has more than 30 years’ experience working in art galleries including the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, UEA where she was first a curator, then Head of Education & Research and Deputy Director. In 2017 Veronica opened GroundWork Gallery in King’s Lynn. She has long worked at the intersection of art, environment, heritage and conservation. Her approach has been to develop spaces that bring these interests together, creating galleries and programmes that explore the relationship between art and the natural world while engaging audiences in social, political and educational dialogue.

The Ellis Family are the custodians of Wolterton Hall and Mannington Hall, two historic estates in North Norfolk with deep connections to landscape, heritage and the arts. Through the careful restoration of these remarkable places, the family are committed to preserving their architectural and natural heritage while opening them to new cultural activity. Their support of Holt Art Projects reflects a shared belief in the importance of creativity, landscape and community.

Entry Criteria

Open to artists working in any medium whose work engages with themes of landscape, nature or the environment. Submissions may include two-dimensional work as well as three-dimensional work suitable for plinth or free-standing installation. Sculpture and three-dimensional work are particularly encouraged. Three-dimensional works must have a maximum footprint of 1m x 1m and must be stable for exhibition display. Artists at all career stages worldwide are welcome to apply.

Holt Art Projects

Holt Art Projects invites submissions to its 2026 programme of contemporary art awards, culminating in a major exhibition in North Norfolk bringing together emerging and established artists from the UK and internationally. The awards continue the legacy of the Sir John Hurt Art Prize, founded in 2010 and inspired by the late actor and painter Sir John Hurt.

The programme now includes seven awards celebrating excellence across painting, portraiture, photography, ceramics, glass, environmental art and emerging practice. Shortlisted works will be exhibited as part of the Holt Art Projects annual exhibition programme in Holt and nearby Glandford, North Norfolk.

The exhibition opens with an awards reception on Sunday 19 July 2026, followed by a private view on Monday 20 July. It will then be open daily from 10am to 5pm until Saturday 1 August.

All works may be offered for sale unless otherwise specified by the artist. Holt Art Projects charges 28.2% commission (23.5% + VAT) on sales. The exhibition is promoted through press coverage, digital platforms and printed materials, attracting collectors, visitors and audiences interested in contemporary art.

Please see FAQs for further details. 

You must have an account to send a message to the curator of this opportunity. Registering only takes a few moments. Once registered you'll be able to keep track of all of your submissions and get updates on upcoming opportunities.

Register

Already have an account? You must log in to send this curator a message.

Login