Whitby: The Great Exhibition Flowergate and Beyond 3rd April - 4th May 2026 Whitby: The Great Exhibition. This opportunity invites you to take part in an exhibition celebrating what Whitby means to you — memories, culture, living history and heritage brought to life through innovative contemporary art showcasing the spirit of this remarkable town.

Your submission will weave Whitby’s story into the present.

The team at Flash Company Arts are looking for artwork that is inspired by:
Memories of Whitby’s iconic landscapes, people, and moments
Connections to its rich history, culture, folklore and community

Inspiration drawn from the town's distinctive character and beauty

We invite you to join us in celebrating Whitby and let your art shine in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

Come, be part of Whitby’s story.

This exhibition is supported by:       
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and part-funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Whitby: The Great Exhibition

Come, be part of Whitby’s story.

Terms and Conditions:

Location:

A multi-venue exhibition that includes Flowergate Hall, supported by venues and businesses in the  Flowergate, Skinner Street, Silver Street area who will champion and showcase participating artists’ work in selected areas and shop windows.

Selection:

All applications will be considered if the work links to at least one of the categories of memories, connections or inspiration.

The Flash Company Arts team reserve the right to reject any work which they consider unsuitable or does not adhere to the terms, conditions and spirit of the exhibition.

These would include work which contains physical material considered hazardous or offensive, or work depicting subjects which may be considered offensive by the viewing public.

Works containing political statements are generally not acceptable.

Numbers of works selected in-line with venue space limitations.

Cost and Fees:

There are no costs to take part in this opportunity; other than a 5% commission charged on any work sold .

This commission will  go directly to the venue dealing with the sale.

Work entered can be for sale or for viewing purposes only.

Labelling:

All work must be clearly labelled on the back of the submitted piece with an additional luggage label for display purposes.

Artist’s name, Title of work, Medium used, Artist Name and Selling Price, which will include the commission.

Optional:
An additional luggage label with a short sentence about what links your work to Whitby.

Exhibition Dates:

The exhibition runs from Saturday, 3rd April 2026 until Monday, 4th May 2026.

Key Dates and Information:

Submissions open: Friday, 20th February 2026 at 09:00.

Submissions close: Tuesday, 10th March 2026 at 23:59.

Artists will be notified of acceptance by Monday, 16th March 2026 at 23:59.

Next Steps:

Delivery of Work:   Hand delivery only. (This is non-negotiable) to
Flowergate Hall, 24 Flowergate, Whitby YO21 3BA
Friday 20th March 2026 between 09:00 and 16:00.

Exhibition opens: Friday 3rd April 2026. (Time to be confirmed)
Exhibition closes: Monday 4th May 2026 at 16:00.
Collection of all submitted work:  Collection from Flowergate Hall. Between 09:00 and 16:00 on either Tuesday, 5th May, or Thursday, 7th May 2026.
This is non-negotiable, and work will be disposed of unless collected within this time frame.

Work Acceptable:

1 piece of wall-hung art

Type of work:

2D – wall-hung paintings, all types of prints e.g., etchings, linocuts and lithographs (not giclée prints), collage, artistic photography, ceramic and glass, as long as suitable for wall hanging.

Maximum perimeter:

(Length of all sides added together): 300 cm

Length of longest side: 90 cm

Commission Terms:

5% of the selling price set by the artist will be retained by the selling venue. The price you provide for the work is the price that the venue will sell at; commission will be deducted from this price.

Insurance:

Insurance of work during this exhibition is the applicant’s responsibility. It is NOT insured by the exhibition organisers or venues. This includes damage or loss.
(i.e., applicant enters work at their own risk)

Public Liability:

The artist must have public liability insurance. This is available through many artists’ organisations. You may be required to provide evidence that you have this insurance.
By submitting to this exhibition, you acknowledge that you have public liability insurance.

NB Failure to adhere to the terms and conditions will result in exclusion from the exhibition. Please read carefully

Q&A General Tips and Guidance:

How to Enter:

Curator Space only.

Suitability of Artwork:

Please read the terms and conditions thoroughly; work will be rejected on delivery if it does not comply. 

The Flash Company Arts team reserve the right to reject any work which they consider unsuitable or does not adhere to the terms, conditions and spirit of the exhibition.

These would include work which contains physical material considered hazardous or offensive, or work depicting subjects which may be considered offensive by the viewing public.

Works containing political statements are generally not acceptable.

Delivery of Work to the Flowergate Hall:

Delivery, collection and insurance of art in transit to and from the gallery is the responsibility of the artist.
Delivery of work is only at the dates and times stated in the terms.

Disc parking is available on:

Flowergate
Skinner Street
St Hilda’s Terrace

Collection of Work After Exhibition:

Collection of unsold exhibition items must take place on the dates and at the times stated above.

Labelling and Packing of Work for Delivery:

All two-dimensional artwork should be labelled on the back with:

• Artist’s Name
• Title of work
• Media (for example: acrylic paint on wooden panel, oil paint on canvas, pastel on paper, etc.)
• Selling Price (or NFS)
• Additionally, the same information should be stated on a luggage label attached to the work which can be seen when the work is hung.

Please also label the packaging with the same details (artist name + title of work), so we can identify it on arrival.

Packaging:

Your work should be delivered in a reusable protective bag, which makes it easy to remove the work for inspection on delivery. Bags are available from suppliers such as:

Artpakk
Stiffy Bags

For smaller works, padded postage envelopes are a good choice.

Or you can make your own bag from cardboard, aluminium insulation wrap or bubble wrap, provided that the artwork can be easily removed and returned to the bag.

To check the suitability of your packaging, imagine you are taking the art with you on holiday and have to present the work quickly for inspection at customs, and then repack it quickly so you are not causing a queue blockage.

Please label your packaging with your name and the title of your work. Packaging will be stored and used to pack your work if it is sold, or to return it to you after the exhibition.

Future Sales:

When labelling work, you can also consider possible future sales to the same buyer or maybe to their friends, so it can be helpful to include contact details such as a website address or Instagram name.

Checking of Work on Arrival:

When you deliver your work to Flowergate Hall, it will be unpacked and checked.

The Flowergate Hall team reserves the right to reject work which is:

• found to be damaged on delivery
• contains any prohibited items
• is not as described on the submission form
• is not packed and labelled as set out in this contract
• is not framed or presented to a standard suitable to display
• Your picture must be fitted with two D-rings positioned on the back and sides of the picture in the top third.
• The D-rings must be of sufficient strength to support the weight of the work. It is not necessary to add a wire or picture cord.

Works can be framed or unframed canvas or panels.