Opportunity details | Saltaire Arts Trail OPEN VILLAGE (2nd - 4th May 2026)

Saltaire Arts Trail OPEN VILLAGE (2nd - 4th May 2026)

Deadline: 18/01/2026

City: Saltaire, Bradford | Region: West Yorkshire | Country: United Kingdom | Saltaire Inspired Team

Call for visual artists working in a variety of art forms to exhibit work as part of Saltaire Arts Trail OPEN VILLAGE, taking place Saturday 2nd May - Monday 4th May 2026.

The Saltaire Arts Trail is an annual community arts event. The Saltaire Arts Trail celebrates and opens up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire Village and its surroundings to visitors by presenting great contemporary visual art within a variety of unique public and residential spaces.

Over the three days of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Saltaire becomes a magnet for visitors who come to explore the wide programme on offer and connect with practising contemporary artists and makers.

The Saltaire Arts Trail prides itself in reaching out to new audiences and making art accessible to all by using imaginative venues to display visual art outside of traditional settings.

Hosted by Saltaire Inspired, the Saltaire Arts Trail programme includes the Open Village, in addition to the SALTAIRE MAKERS FAIR, commissioned exhibitions and installations, and creative family friendly workshops.

Event Dates:

Saturday 2nd May - Monday 4th May 2026 (May Day Bank Holiday weekend).

The Open Village

The Open Village encourages visitors to explore spaces in Saltaire and the surrounding area not traditionally found on the tourist map thanks to local residents and small business owners, Grade II listed mill cottages, public buildings, gardens and small business spaces transform into gallery spaces, giving both emerging and established artists an opportunity to exhibit within these unique heritage settings.

Previous Open Village events have been hugely popular, with many visitors taking the opportunity to look inside the small industrial cottages and peer into windows to see the wide variety of art on offer in an informal domestic setting.

Visitors follow the trail of art on show around this village-wide gallery and enjoy meeting the artists behind the work on show. Each year, audiences encounter exciting and innovative projects which really set the Saltaire Arts Trail apart from others in the UK.

Artists selected through this open-call will be invited to take part in the Open Village, exhibiting their work in these unique spaces.

We strongly encourage all applicants to read the ‘Opportunity FAQs’ section for full details before applying. This can be found towards the top of the page, below the event title, by clicking the tab in green text.

A one-off participation fee will be applicable for all artists selected to take part in the Open Village, at £80 per artist.

Window exhibition spaces viewed externally may also be available, with a reduced fee. No commission will be taken on any sales.

What are we looking for

We are looking for a diverse exhibition of visual art that is contemporary, interesting, and of gallery standard. Year after year, the high quality of exhibiting artists is what makes Saltaire Arts Trail an exceptional event.
Saltaire Inspired is committed to inclusion and diversity, and particularly encourages applications from artists whose backgrounds and lived experiences are underrepresented in the visual arts, contemporary craft and design sectors. If you would value a pre application conversation or have questions about showing your work at the Saltaire Arts Trail, please contact us through the “Contact curator” tab towards the top of this page.
Due to the nature of the unique spaces to exhibit within, the Open Village opportunity is particularly suited to showing wall-hung contemporary fine art work in a wide variety of media, and small scale sculptural works to be displayed on shelves, small tables and floors. Gardens and public spaces may be offered to show larger sculptural objects and installations.
Space in the Open Village can be limited due to the nature of these unique spaces. Please consider this when submitting your application.
Art forms accepted include painting, photography, printmaking, digital art, drawing, collage, illustration, textile art and small scale sculpture or contemporary objects. This is not an exhaustive list, and we are very interested to see other mediums.
All artwork must be original in concept and have been made by the exhibitor themselves. Please contact the Saltaire Inspired team if you have any questions.
We are keen to welcome submissions from artists in the early stages of their careers, as well as from established artists. Returning exhibitors will be expected to exhibit new work, so if you have exhibited with us before, please include details of proposed new work in your application.
Additionally, please be excited and prepared to invigilate your own work and be present during the weekend to interact with visitors. Artists must also be available to install and take down their own work.

How to apply

Make your submission via Curatorspace, uploading between 4 - 10 good-quality images. Please ensure that you upload and attach each image one at a time. Your application will be judged on your images and information given in your application, so good, clear-quality images are essential.
In your application, please feel welcome to inform us of any accessibility requirements you may have. Reasonable adjustments will be made where possible to facilitate participation throughout our application process and events. If you would value a pre application conversation or have any questions about taking part in the Saltaire Arts Trail, please contact us through the “Contact curator” tab towards the top of this page.
Additionally, please contact us as soon as possible if you require submission in an alternative format, and we do our best to facilitate this.
A non-refundable administration fee of £6 will be required for all submissions. This £6 fee does not guarantee a place within the Open Village, as all applications are subject to a fair and unbiased selection process with an independent panel of industry professional judges. This administration fee should be paid on the same date you submit your application in order for your application to be considered. As a volunteer-led charitable organisation, this helps us cover the costs of holding the call out.
Before you submit your application, you will be directed to Curatorspace’s secure payment portal in order to make payment of this fee and complete your submission.
Please submit your application before the deadline of Sunday 18th January 2026

Students and Recent Graduates

At Saltaire Inspired, we are keen to welcome applications from artists from a wide variety of lived experiences and are committed to supporting emerging and early-career artists.

If you are a current student or have recently graduated from an art or design degree in the last 2 years, please let us know in the ‘Student or Recent Graduate’ section of the application form, as we have a limited number of reduced fee places available.

About Saltaire Inspired

Saltaire Inspired is an ambitious arts charity, creating quality contemporary arts events in unique settings. We deliver three annual arts events in the heritage village of Saltaire and the surrounding area, and work towards our vision to help Saltaire become an internationally recognised centre for the visual arts.

We create art and community events in unique spaces and present exciting and challenging contemporary visual art in accessible settings, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to take part. Saltaire Inspired is a registered charity.

Visit the Saltaire Inspired Website to find out more.

IMPORTANT NOTE - Before submitting your application, please read the 'Opportunity FAQs' section for full details and requirements for this event. This can be found towards the top of the page, below the event title, by clicking the tab in green text.

Submission fees

The following submission fees apply to this opportunity.

Open Village at SAT26 Application Fee - 6.00 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?

Visual artists resident in the UK. A variety of disciplines and media is considered, however applications to show jewellery will not be considered for this opportunity, and should instead consider the SALTAIRE MAKERS FAIR opportunity.

When is the deadline?

Sunday 18th January 2026.

What kind of work are you looking for?

The Open Village is a village-wide exhibition spanning many different spaces. Due to the unique nature of the domestic and small business settings, venues will be most suitable for showing wall-hung, fine art in a wide variety of media, and small-scale, sculptural works to be displayed on shelves, small tables and floor standing. Please note that large-scale, heavy pieces may not be suitable for hanging and alternative display arrangements need to be considered.

Window spaces may also be filled with art for audiences to enjoy from the street, and garden / backyards may be offered to show larger sculptural objects suitable for outdoor display.
Art forms accepted include painting, photography, printmaking, digital art, drawing, collage, illustration and small-scale sculpture or contemporary objects, but this is not an exhaustive list and we are very interested to see original works in other media.

We are very interested in receiving exciting applications to show less conventional work, and if selected, we will do our best to accommodate it within these unique exhibition spaces.

Can I send my artwork and take part remotely?

Unfortunately not. The Open Village is a live, in-person event which gives artists and audiences the opportunity to connect and requires exhibitors to be present across the weekend, including invigilating their artwork and making their own sales. Artists are also expected to install and take down their own work. This is not a remote opportunity.

Will my work be displayed in a room, window or a garden space?

Saltaire Inspired invites residents and small business owners to offer their interior living spaces, exterior spaces and/or window spaces to exhibiting artists. Window-only spaces allow visitors to view the artwork from the street. If your application is selected, Saltaire Inspired will allocate you with a suitable exhibition space depending on the work being proposed and the display requirements. If you feel that your work is only suitable for one type of space, please provide your preference in your application.

Please note that the more flexible you can be, the more likely we will be to find a suitable space for you to exhibit. Due to the domestic nature of these settings, large-scale or heavy wall-hung pieces in particular may be more suited to alternative display methods such as standing easels. If your application is successful, there will be time to plan your exhibition and discuss display methods with your host and the support of the Saltaire Inspired team.

Is there a fee to apply?

There is a non-refundable administration fee of £6 required for all submissions. As a volunteer-led charitable organisation, this helps us to cover the administrational costs of carrying out a fair and unbiased selection process with an independent panel of industry professional judges.

Before you submit your application, you will be directed to Curatorspace's secure payment portal in order to make payment of the application fee and to complete your submission. The administration fee should be paid on the same date as your application is submitted to ensure it will be considered.

Please note that this £6 administrative fee does not guarantee you a place within the Open Village. All applications are subject to a selection process.

What other fees / commissions are there?

A fixed one-off participation fee of £80 will be applicable for each artist selected to take part in the Open Village at Saltaire Arts Trail 2026.

For artists who may be allocated a window space, the fee will be £60 per artist.
No commission will be taken on any sales made during the event. Artists will have control over their own sales and will take home the whole amount earned through these sales.

As Saltaire Inspired is a not-for-profit arts organisation, the fixed fee will contribute towards the effective and professional organisation and delivery of the Saltaire Arts Trail, to a high standard and to the benefit of the artists involved in the event.

How many/what kind of images should I submit?

You can attach up to 10 images as part of your application. To help us with selection, please upload a minimum of 4. It is vital to the selection process that the images you submit are of a good quality and give a true idea of the work you wish to exhibit.

Please upload JPG images, no larger than 4MB. If you are selected, the images will be used initially as part of an online gallery, so we only need them to be web-size at this stage.

Please note: You will need to upload each image separately to ensure that they successfully attach to your application, please check your completed application to make sure all images appear.

What is the decision making process for the applications?

An independent committee of arts professionals will assess all applications and make the selection in January 2026. You will be informed as to whether your application was successful as early as possible after selection. The panel will be given the task of putting together a well-balanced show, considering new and returning exhibitors, emerging and established artists and an interesting mix of genres.

It is important that the images you submit are representative of the quality of the work you wish to show. The panel will be able to research your website, but time is always tight and first impressions from the submitted images are crucial. The decision of the selection panel is final and unfortunately no discussion can be entered into once the selection has been made, though we will be happy to give general feedback.

I am an artist and live in Saltaire, and I want to open up my own house. Do I still have to apply?

No, you do not need to apply through this Curatorspace opportunity. We have a strand of the Open Village specifically for Saltaire resident artists and makers. You will not need to apply if you want to show work in your own home or studio in Saltaire. However, if you want your house or studio to be promoted as part of the Open Village / Saltaire Arts Trail, and your artwork to feature in our online gallery on the website and appear in all our associated publicity and marketing, you will need to register.

There is a reduced participation fee which varies depending on whether you are welcoming other artists to share your space or exhibiting solo. Please contact us directly through the 'Contact the curator' section of this page if you are interested or have any questions.

What happens if my application is selected?

You will be contacted shortly after the selection meeting in January 2026. All artists who have submitted work will be contacted even if unsuccessful on this occasion. If selected, you won't know the location of your Open Village space until a little while after selection, as we need to match work selected to venues available. Shortly thereafter, we will put you in touch with your host so that you can plan your exhibition together.

If your application is successful, you must be able to install your own work in the week running up to the event and be available to uninstall afterwards. You also will be expected to share invigilation duties with the other artists exhibiting in your allocated space, and will be asked to agree to our terms of participation.

Payment of the one-off participation fee must be paid by 1st March 2026 in order to secure your place within the Open Village at Saltaire Arts Trail 2026.

How much/what type of work can be shown?

It will depend on the venues available, which vary from year to year. Open Village spaces are small domestic and small business spaces which come to us through the kindness of their owners, so we take a lot of care in curating them.

For an Open Village wall space, please expect approximately 4 to 8 ft of wall space for 2D work, or roughly a couple of coffee tables and a shelf or two for 3D work. If placed in a window, the average Saltaire house window measures 160cm high x 100cm wide, and work should be installed in the interior side of the window facing outwards, so that visitors can view the work from the street.

In terms of displaying work, we aim for a curated gallery appearance, not a shop look, and we do not intend to salon hang floor-to-ceiling or to allow large numbers of browsers or racks, for aesthetic as well as safety reasons, so please think 'less is more'. If your work is of a larger scale, you should expect to show fewer pieces, and if your work is of a much smaller scale, you could expect to show more pieces, within reason. Please remember that most of the spaces on offer are residents' homes.

What are the exhibition opening hours?

Saturday 2nd May - Monday 4th May 2026, 10 am - 5 pm each day.

When can work be installed? When does the work need to be taken away?

The event opens to the public at 10am on Saturday 2nd May 2026, and we kindly request that work is installed in the week prior, by the evening of Friday 1st May, following close liaison with your allocated Open Village host and the Saltaire Inspired team.

Work should be removed at the close of the Saltaire Arts Trail weekend, 5pm on Monday 4th May, or as soon as possible after this by arrangement with your host.

Does the location have disabled access?

Due to the historical nature and peculiarities of the domestic settings, unfortunately most mill houses are not accessible to wheelchair users or individuals with mobility impairments. Most window spaces and small business / public spaces will be accessible to exhibitors and visitors to view the artwork on display via level access.
In your application, please feel welcome to inform us of any accessibility requirements you may have.

Reasonable adjustments will be made where possible to facilitate participation throughout our application process and events. If you have accessibility requirements, Saltaire Inspired will work hard to find a suitable location, however please note that unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed, as we work wholly within the spaces that we are kindly offered by residents. If you would value a pre application conversation or have any questions about taking part in the Saltaire Arts Trail, please contact us.

What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?

Saltaire Inspired will market and promote the Open Village as one of the highlights of Saltaire Arts Trail 2026, through the production and distribution of printed matter, an online social media campaign and by generating press releases and distributing them to appropriate media.

Exhibiting artists will be featured on the Saltaire Inspired website in an online Artist Gallery, in a dedicated social media campaign, and will be listed on a printed trail map leaflet.

How are sales handled?

Work exhibited in the Open Village locations may be priced for sale, although it need not be. Sales will be handled entirely by the artists, no commission will be taken on any sales. Artists will have control over their own sales and will take home the whole amount earned through these sales.

We believe that this will be of financial benefit to most artists offering work for sale over the Arts Trail weekend. Artists will be responsible for taking their own card and cash sales, and may consider bringing their own card reader.

Work sold during the weekend may be taken away immediately by buyers so, space permitting and in consultation with your host, you can bring spare work for replacement of sales.

I'm not sure whether to go for this or the Saltaire Makers Fair opportunity. Can I apply for both?

No, do please try to choose one or the other, as you will not be able to take part in both and are quite different offers - please read the 'What kind of work are you looking for?' FAQ. Further advice can be found on the Saltaire Inspired website to help you decide which opportunity is best suited to your work.

If you want to show a large selection of work for sale, including small items, then the Saltaire Makers Fair may be more appropriate than the Open Village, where space is at a premium (please read the Artistic Policy for the Saltaire Makers Fair opportunity to see if your work is suitable, as the Makers Fair is for contemporary craft applications only).

If you are still really torn, you can add a note in the 'Additional Requirements' box to say you'd be interested in the Saltaire Makers Fair if not selected for the Open Village. Please note that your application will be judged primarily for the opportunity you apply for.

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