The Sir John Hurt Award celebrates excellence in contemporary art and is open to artists working across all forms of two-dimensional wall-based media, including painting, drawing, printmaking and mixed media.

The original Holt Festival Art Prize, which was inaugurated in 2010, was renamed in honour of award-winning actor Sir John Hurt following his death in 2017. John had trained as a painter at St Martin’s before attending RADA and continued to paint all his life. A patron and supporter of Holt Festival, he judged the 2014 art prize which was awarded to Francesca Perkins. Previous winners of this coveted award include Kate Giles, Katarzyna Coleman, Bruer Tidman and Eleanor Wood.

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

Lady Anwen Hurt is a producer, casting director, pro-chancellor of Norwich University of the Arts and Creative Director of Holt Art Projects. She was an early supporter of Holt Festival, alongside Sir John, and was appointed Artistic Director of the festival from 2019 to 2023.

Katherine Jones RA is a contemporary artist whose work explores the natural world through observation, colour and form. Drawing inspiration from landscape, plants and organic structures, her practice often reflects a close engagement with nature and the rhythms of the environment. Through painting and mixed media, she creates works that balance careful study with a strong sense of atmosphere and place.

David Cass is an artist and curator working between the UK and Europe. Originally trained as a painter, he has gone on to develop a multi-media practice encompassing film, photography, installation and performance, presenting work at venues and festivals including the Royal Scottish Academy, Christie’s, The Scottish Gallery, Venice Biennale and four COP summits. Guided by a belief in art as a powerful communicator, Cass regularly produces collaborative conceptual projects that engage the public, creating accessible entry points to explore pressing social and environmental issues.

Entry Criteria

Open to artists working in two-dimensional, wall-based media including painting, drawing, printmaking and mixed media. Submissions should demonstrate originality, strong visual impact and a high standard of artistic practice. Artists at all career stages worldwide are welcome to apply. Shortlisted works will be exhibited together in Holt and one artist, agreed by the judges, will be awarded £2,000. 

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.