Call for entries for The Horton's Summer Exhibition for artists in Surrey. Exhibition 1st -21st August. Main competition prize of free exhibition space and promotion for three individual artists in 2025.

The Horton Arts Centre is delighted to announce an Open Call for our first Summer Exhibition, designed to provide artists in Surrey and south London borders with an opportunity to showcase new work within our stunning Atrium exhibition space.

The Horton Summer Exhibition will be held 1st – 21st August 2024 and will showcase a variety of artwork selected by an expert panel, with a main competition prize of free exhibition space and promotion for three artists in 2025 at The Horton.

THE THEME

The Horton has a fascinating history of pioneering mental health care, as the site of the former Horton Asylum Chapel and Europe’s first music therapy centre. In acknowledgement of this important heritage and line with The Horton’s vision of enabling creativity to support wellbeing, artists are invited to submit an entry on the theme State of Mind.

WHO CAN ENTER

The Horton Summer Exhibition is open to professional and amateur artists living in Surrey, including the former historic Surrey boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon. If you apply with an ineligible postcode, we cannot consider your entry.

The minimum age is 16 years at the time of the exhibition. Students in current education are eligible to apply. Please note that people under 18 will need an adult to apply on their behalf. 

WHY ENTER?

The selection panel hopes to see an eclectic mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors. If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, you will benefit from:

• A three-week exhibition at a beautiful venue with free parking and cafe-bar on-site.
• Artist’s name and link on our website.
• Outreach to press and media.
• Promotion of the exhibition on The Horton’s social media accounts.
• Printed exhibition leaflets/ posters and price lists.
• Promotional photography and video filmed in the exhibition space.
• Invitation to a Private View launch event.
• Opportunity to sell work – with a 20% + VAT commission (deposit) on sales taken by The Horton to raise funds for our charity.
  
  

MAKING A SUBMISSION

The cost of entry is being kept low to reduce barriers to participation. Artists will pay £5 per entry and can enter a maximum of three artworks. (£15) If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, there will be an additional fee of £25 per artist (£10 for those aged under 23) to participate; this goes towards the costs of running and promoting the exhibition and provides you with all the benefits listed above.

YOUR ARTWORK

• Your work must have been completed in the last five years.
• 2D – must be framed or canvas (no clip frames) with fixings and be a maximum size of 110cm wide x 110cm
• 3D – will be considered but there are fewer spaces available – at a maximum of 100cm wide.
• All work for sale should be priced between £100 and £2000. But you do not have to put your work up for sale.
  
  

KEY DATES

• Submissions must be made ONLINE through CuratorSpace.
• The first round of selection will be made from digital images of artworks.
• Final deadline for entries: Monday 10th  June 2024 at midnight.
• If you are successful in the first, digital round, we will notify you by email and may ask you to deliver your artwork The Horton for the final round of in-person judging. Date to be confirmed.
• Artists selected to exhibit will be notified in the week beginning 1st July 2024
• Exhibition Dates: 1st – 21st August 2024

The Horton Summer Exhibition is sponsored by eating and lifestyle hub Epsom Square.

THE JUDGING PANEL 

Loucia Manopoulou
Curator and Visiting Lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts

Loucia has extensive experience in a wide range of creative and cultural environments instigating curatorial projects and exhibitions in the UK and Greece. Loucia is responsible for UCA’s Surrey campus galleries, at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell and is a Trustee at 318 Ceramics, Farnham.

Joe Dowden
Artist and Author

Joe painted his first landscape in watercolour at the age of six, on Shere Heath, Surrey, moving on to creating accurate plein air railway drawings in the Surrey Hills, selling to enthusiasts and engineers. He has written ten books on watercolour painting, translated into around a dozen languages. and presented on television.
Joe has exhibited at national and international exhibitions in Asia, Russia, China, Europe and the UK, including at London West End Galleries and Hotels and various Royal Societies.

Georgia Kitty Harris
Artist

A printmaker and illustrator, Georgia studied Fine Art at Kingston and has an MA in Printmaking from the Royal College of Art. Georgia specialises in detailed portrait drawings and created all of the patient portraits included in The Horton’s permanent heritage exhibition. Georgia’s work has been selected for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize and the Derwent Art Prize.

Claire Chandler
Artist

Claire is an abstract painter who explores the connection between nature and a sense of place. Claire studied in Newcastle, graduating in 1997 with a degree Fine Art. Since then she has worked in the arts alongside her creative practice, as an art tutor at The Horton,  Sutton College and within the local community.
Claire is represented by private and online galleries and her paintings have been selected for exhibitions in London, Paris and New York and feature in collections around the world.

Steve Trimm
Illustrator and graphic designer, trustee

Steve began his career working for the Conran Design Group, Paris fashion house Lanvin and the 1992 World Expo in Seville. He has led creative projects around the globe for clients such as British Airways and now practices as a freelance designer and visiting lecturer. He is the creator of The Horton’s brand identity and designer for the permanent heritage exhibition. Steve teaches at The Horton’s life drawing sessions and is also a trustee of the charity.

Maria Reeves
Creative director

Maria is a co-founder of the charity that runs The Horton, previously serving five years a trustee and taking a leading role in project managing the renovation of the listed building and its transformation in becoming an independent arts centre.
As creative director of The Horton, she leads artistic programming at the venue – from creative workshops to performances and events – introducing The Horton Summer Exhibition for the first time this year.