Paint it, carve it, stitch it – show it at the Harley Open 2026. Our biennial open exhibition returns in 2026, inviting artists, makers and heritage craft practitioners to exhibit work in our award-winning gallery. Whether you’re a professional, a hobbyist, a potter or a painter – we want to see your work.

The Harley Open 2024 showed 185 artworks, all made by people living and working within 100 miles of the gallery.

For the first time in 2026, the Harley Open will be accepting submissions of sculpture, craft and freestanding works – and are particularly encouraging applications from those who practice heritage or endangered craft skills.

Will your work be on show in the Harley Open 2026? Will you be one of our prize winners?

About the Open Call

We are looking for 2D and 3D works of visual art or craft in any style or medium.

Entries are accepted by artists, makers, and heritage craft practitioners from within 100 miles of the gallery (as the crow flies), and must have been made within the last 2 years.

Each artist, maker, or heritage craft practitioner can enter one artwork or object, and entries cost £10.

This year we are encouraging applications from practitioners using heritage craft skills. Please check the Heritage Crafts Red List to see whether your practice includes heritage craft skills, and its level of risk.

Before you apply, please read our full submission guidelines.

The Judges

The Harley Open 2026 will be judged by:

Bryony Bond, Director of the Harley Foundation; James Fox, art historian and author of Craftland; and Joe Hill, Director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

James Fox
Art historian and multi-award-winning, BAFTA nominated broadcaster, known for his many acclaimed BBC documentaries. He is the author of Craftland: A Journey Through Britain’s Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades and the celebrated The World According to Colour: A Cultural History.

Joe Hill
Recently appointed Director and CEO of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Hill was previously the Director of Towner Eastbourne and is one of the jury members for the 2026 Turner Prize.