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CuratorSpace | Project management tools for curators and artists

OPO Open 2026

Deadline: 01/01/2026

City: Scarborough  |  Region: North Yorkshire  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  Old Parcels Office

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CALL OUT for entries for the OPO OPEN 2026.

About the Exhibition:

The OPO Open 2026 will be held at the Old Parcels Office Artspace (OPO), Station Car Park, Westborough, Scarborough, YO11 1TU.

Since opening in 2021, the OPO has become the Yorkshire Coast’s leading centre for contemporary visual art — a striking converted railway building offering a unique, characterful setting for exhibitions.

Now in its 5th year, the OPO ‘Open Call’ attracts entries from artists across the UK.

Last year, over 1000 people visited the exhibition.

Around 80 works will be selected for the exhibition by a panel of independent selectors

Deadline:

Midnight, Wednesday 1 January 2026

Exhibition dates:

14 February – 8 March 2026

Venue:

Old Parcels Office Artspace, Scarborough

Who Can Apply:

The Open is open to all artists living in the UK (unfortunately, we cannot accept international submissions).

We welcome entries in the following media:

  • Painting
  • Original or digital printmaking
  • Drawing
  • Mixed media
  • Sculpture
  • Ceramics
  • Textiles
  • Crafts (2D & 3D)
  • Photography


(Please note: video work cannot be accepted this year.)

There is no size restriction, but artists should consider the building’s distinctive architecture and non–“white cube” layout when choosing works to submit.

Selection Panel:

Entries will be judged by an independent panel of curators and artists:

Dr Kerry Harker – Curator and researcher based in Leeds. Exhibitions include Harewood House (Leeds), Impressions Gallery (Bradford), The Hepworth (Wakefield) and Saatchi Gallery (London).

Gordon Dalton – International artist based in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, and member of Contemporary British Painting.

Sally Gorham – Curator and Chair of Scarborough Studios CIO, the arts charity that runs the OPO.

How to Enter:

Artists may submit up to 3 works.

Entry fees:

£25 for up to 3 works, or £10 for a single work (regardless of size or medium).

Each artwork must be accompanied by one image (JPG/JPEG, max 4MB).

Images should be sharp, well-cropped, and accurately represent your work — no filters or colour adjustments.

Please ensure you pay the correct fee for the number of works submitted. Unpaid or underpaid entries cannot be considered.

Key Dates:

Deadline for entries:

Midnight, 1 January 2026

Notification of selection:

On or before 16 January 2026

Delivery of selected works:

  • Thurs 29 Jan, 11 am–6.30 pm (artist drop-off & courier day)
  • Fri 30 Jan, 11 am–1 pm 
  • Sat 31 Jan, 11 am–3 pm
  • Sun 1 Feb, 11 am–1 pm


Private View:

Sat 14 Feb, 2–4 pm

Exhibition open:

14 Feb – 8 Mar 2026

Collection of works:

Sun 8 Mar, 4–5.30 pm
Mon 9 Mar, 10 am–6 pm

Commission:

The OPO charges 33% commission on sales made during the exhibition, which helps towards the costs of putting on the exhibition.

The prizes for the OPO Open 2026 are:

  • Visitors’ Choice: £200 prize awarded at the end of the exhibition to the most popular work as voted for by visitors to the exhibition.
  • Jim Orme Painting Prize £250.00
  • OPO Trustees Prize: £250.00 awarded to the artwork selected by the Trustees of the Old Parcels Office.
  • Hawthorn Print Prize: £100.00 materials voucher for the selected printmaker. Sponsored by Hawthorn Printmaking Supplies


More Information

Please read the FAQs before submitting — including details on sales commission, delivery, and collection.

After submitting your first artwork, you will then be directed to make a payment. Select the amount for the number of submissions you would like to make.

If this is more than one, you will then be able to make further submissions by submitting additional forms up to the number of artworks you have paid for.

Submission fees

The following submission fees apply to this opportunity.

  • Fee for submitting 1 work - 10.00 GBP
  • Fee for submitting 3 works - 25.00 GBP

The appropriate fee will be payable using a debit or credit card after the first submission has been completed. If the submission fee allows you to submit more than once, you will be able to make further submissions after the first. Contact the curator if you have any questions about the opportunity or the submission fee, or email help@curatorspace.com if you have any questions about the payment process.

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
This opportunity is open to all visual artists and makers whether professional, amateur, student or graduate who are resident in the UK.
Work should have been created within the last 2 years, must be your own work, and owned by you.
Copies of artworks will not be accepted, but those ‘derived’ from another piece may be considered.
When is the deadline?
The deadline for submissions is midnight on 1st January 2026.
How many works can I submit?
Up to 3 artworks may be submitted per artist. Please ensure the media and dimensions are accurately listed in your entry form.
The following forms of visual art will be accepted: painting, original & digital printmaking, drawing, sculpture, textiles, crafts (2D & 3D), photography. (Unfortunately we are unable to accept video work this year). If your work has special installation requirements then please let us know with clear instructions in the ‘Specials Instructions’ box on the application form.
When is the delivery date?
The dates for delivery of selected work are:
Thursday 29th January 11am - 6.30pm (artist drop off and courier day)
Saturday 31st January 11am - 3pm (artist drop off)
Sunday 1st February 11am – 1pm (artist drop off)

Bring your work to: Old Parcels Office, Westborough, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1TN. You will find us at the far end of the station carpark. Please use the car parking spaces and leave the loading area free, unless your work is exceptionally heavy or large, in which case please give us prior warning to assist in the handling of it.
We are able to accept work from couriers on Thursday 29th January provided that they arrive during the hours stated above, the OPO is closed outside of these hours.
When do I need to collect my work?
The dates for collection of unsold work are:
Sunday 8th March 2026 4pm – 5.30pm (artist collection)
Monday 9th March 2026 10am – 6pm (artist and courier collection)
Courier collection of work should be organised by the artist. Courier pick-up times will be during those outlined above, as the OPO is closed outside of those stated hours. The work will be returned in its original packaging, be aware there may be a charge for our time taken in repackaging the work for transit.
As we have limited storage facilities, we will dispose of any uncollected work after 1st May 2026.
How much does it cost?
Submission fees are £25 for 3 works and £10 for a single work, irrespective of size or medium.
Fees must be paid at the time of application and will be paid online. Failure to make the correct fee for the number of works submitted will lead to works being automatically rejected.
This fee is non-returnable, even if your work is not selected for exhibition.
Are there any prizes?
The prizes for the OPO Open 2026 are:
Visitors’ Choice: £200 prize awarded at the end of the exhibition to the most popular work as voted for by visitors to the exhibition.
Jim Orme Painting Prize £250.00
OPO Trustees Prize: £250.00 awarded to the artwork selected by the Trustees of the Old Parcels Office.
Hawthorn Print Prize: £100.00 materials voucher for the selected printmaker. Sponsored by Hawthorn Printmaking Supplies
Is there a private view / opening?
Private View/Opening date is Saturday 14th February 2 - 4pm
What are the exhibition opening hours?
The exhibition will be open to the public: Saturday 14th February to Sunday 8th March 2025
Gallery opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Does the location have disabled access?
Yes the OPO has disabled access.
How will the exhibition be promoted?
The exhibition will be marketed through the OPO social media sites and through the regional and local press.
How will work be selected for the exhibition?
Work will be selected on-line by our panel of 2 independent judges and one member of the Board of Trustees of the OPO. Art work will be considered entirely on its own merits, therefore your name and biographical information will not be revealed to the panel during this process.
If my work is selected how should I prepare my work?
You will need to clearly label each piece with your name, title and price of the work, to match the information on your application form.
As the OPO is a heritage building and the hanging system is rail-based, with wires and sliders, rather than the work being attached to the wall itself. Therefore all 2D work for hanging should be fitted on the back with D-Rings, placed vertically approximately 5cm from the top of the frame. Please ensure the D-Rings used are suitable for the weight of the artwork. No picture cord or wire is required.
Mirror plates will not be accepted. If they are required, for any reason, then we reserve the right to fit them to your frame/stretcher at the OPO.
We also reserve the right to adjust your fittings, if needs be, to ensure a successful curation of your work.
When will I know if my work has been selected?
You will be notified on or before 16th January 2026 whether your artwork has been selected for exhibition or not.
The decision of the selectors on all matters is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the selections made.
How much commission will be taken if my work is sold?
If your work is sold Scarborough Studios CIO will take a 33% commission on the sale price. Please remember to include commission when you are pricing your works. Please also note that artists liable to VAT are responsible for paying their own tax.
When your work sells and once the buyer has paid in full, a red dot will be placed beside the piece, and another on the list of works in the space.
Any sales of the work during the exhibition should be processed via the Old Parcels Office. If you, the artist, sell the artwork via another platform, then the commission to the OPO will still be owing. Please inform us of all sales immediately to avoid replication.
Payment to artists will take place after the exhibition closes. A member of the Old Parcels Office will be in touch to take your bank account name, number and sort code and the funds will be transferred to you via BACS. We will not ask you for any further account information, and this information will only be used to make this payment.
What happens if the exhibition is cancelled for any reason?
The OPO reserves the right to restrict, change, postpone or cancel the exhibition if deemed necessary or unavoidable. In this case we will be in touch with all artists to update them on the situation.
Do I need to insure my work?
Whilst every care will be take in the handling of your artworks. The Old Parcels Office and Scarborough Studios CIO can accept no liability for loss or damage to work submitted to and exhibited during the Open Exhibition; therefore, you may wish to arrange your own insurance for any artworks delivered to us.

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