Opportunity details | York Open Studios Call for Bursary Artists 2026

York Open Studios Call for Bursary Artists 2026

Deadline: 27/07/2025

City: York | Region: North Yorkshire | Country: United Kingdom | York Open Studios

Paid opportunity

York Open Studios is York's longest running arts festival, and we will be holding our next event across the weekends of 18-19 and 25-26 April 2026.

Our selected artists open their workshops, studios, and homes over two weekends every year - it is a great opportunity for the public to meet artists and to really see how they work.

We pride ourselves on having an independent selection process and on supporting students, newly emerging, and established artists, encouraging a wider interest in the arts in York.

York Open Studios was founded by Anne Hutchison and Gail Fox and the first event was held in 2002 with 19 other exhibitors. Since then we have introduced hundreds of York artists to our visitors, including over 50 higher education students and over 20 multimedia artists, and we continue to be run by a small volunteer committee.

In addition to our Open Studios, we are committed to supporting artists who create non-saleable work such as performance, digital, conceptual or installation to create a body of work to be shown during the event. We are offering a bursary of £500 to selected artists who fit the criteria.

To apply, you must live or have a permanent studio within a ten-mile radius of York city centre. We welcome applications from artists at all stages in their careers.

Artists may only be awarded the bursary twice. Artists who have received a YOS bursary previously are not eligible to apply for the following year's event, i.e. the bursary will not be given to the same artist in 2 consecutive years.

If you would like a clear, large print, copy of this description, the FAQs, and the application form, click here for a PDF version which you can download or print.

To submit:

Before you start to complete the form, read the Information for Applicants. This document includes the terms and conditions, expectations, and a timetable, as well as some helpful tips for completing the application form. It is particularly important to follow the instructions on submitting images and supporting text.

You should also read the FAQs before you complete the application form.

Payment:

Artists will be paid the bursary in two instalments of £250, once prior to the event and once after the event is finished.

Make a submission Contact the curator

Who is eligible for this opportunity?

Artists and craftspeople who create original artwork, that is not saleable, and who live or have a permanent studio within ten miles of York city centre at the time of the Open Studios weekends. Applicants must be 18 or over.

The bursary is intended to support an artist who creates digital, film, performance or installation to create a body of work to be shown primarily during our open weekends. Artists in receipt of the bursary are not able to sell their work during the YOS weekends.

When is the deadline?

11.59 pm, Sunday 27 July 2025.

Where can I exhibit?

Bursary artists can use their own studio, workshop, home, or an educational establishment where they teach or are artist in residence. Alternatively, they may borrow or hire a venue if this is more appropriate for their proposed work. Any such venue must be within ten miles of York city centre.

The following applies to bursary artists as well as to those applying through the standard route:
Up to five artists can share a venue as long as at least one of these artists uses the space on a permanent basis. If there are more than five artists who are all permanently resident in a venue then they will be permitted to show together. A venue with more than five permanent artists cannot host additional guest artists.

Where applicants use a shared studio space, they should discuss in advance with their colleagues what would happen if one or more of them does not apply, or is not selected, for the event. YOS terms and conditions include that only work by selected artists can be shown, so for example:
A, B, C and D work together in a studio
A doesn’t apply for YOS
B, C and D apply for YOS
B and C are selected
D is not selected
then only the work of B and C can be on display during the YOS opening times.

What are the opening hours?

Friday 17 April: 6 - 9 pm (optional preview evening)
Saturday 18 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 19 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday 25 April: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 26 April: 10 am - 5 pm

Is there a private view / opening?

Artists can choose to have a public preview on the evening of Friday 17 April which will be published in the directory and on the website. Artists can also choose to have a private preview on this evening but this will not be published.

Do I need to be present?

Yes, you must be present at your venue at all published times on both weekends.

How much does it cost?

There is no application fee for bursary artists.

How do you decide on applications/proposals?

We employ an independent panel of arts professionals from outside the York area to select our artists.

What are the selection criteria?

The independent selection panel are asked to apply the following criteria:

- We are keen to show a wide range of disciplines, but we expect the work to be original and high quality, and demonstrate a clear direction and vision.
- We want our visitors to be excited by the work on offer.
- The work submitted should evoke a positive response, and you should use your knowledge and experience to come to a decision.
- Think about qualities such as use and application of materials, composition, consistent style, and work showing creative commitment and a professional outlook.
- Presentation and execution of work must be of a consistently high quality.
- Please also consider the professionalism of the images presented (in focus, properly lit, etc.). If the applicant is successful, these are the images that will be used in our printed directory and on our website.

Decisions will be based purely on the quality of the applications submitted, so make sure your images are high quality and show your work clearly. You are asked for a description of your work and you must make sure the panel understands what they are looking at.

The panel may also research your previous work via your website, but time is always tight and first impressions from the submitted images and description are crucial. Artists who submit poor quality images or descriptions that are too brief are unlikely to be selected.

The decision of the selection panel is final and the YOS committee is unable to give feedback to individuals on their applications.

How many images do I need to submit?

You must submit five good quality JPG images of the type of work you expect to show in April. At least three of these must be individual works but two may be detail or close-up shots. Your images must be high quality and show your work clearly. They will be used by our panel during selection, and then if you are successful they will be used on our website, marketing materials and social media. We reserve the right to crop or otherwise edit your images.

You should prepare your images on your device BEFORE uploading them to the form. It is difficult to rename them within Curator Space and we require each image to be named as specified in the form. See the Information for Applicants document (link on description page) for more information.

What happens next?

Once the selection panel has completed their work, you will receive an email via Curator Space to let you know whether you have been accepted or not.

For those who have been accepted, you will receive a further form to fill in which asks additional questions for your directory entry and to confirm that you agree to the terms and conditions. You will also be asked to pay your admission fee. The deadline for payment and provision of these further details is Friday 26 September 2025.

What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?

Each artist will have a dedicated page on our website and will be showcased across our social media channels. A printed directory with images, venue address and contact details will be produced including a handy map showing all venues. We employ a PR agency who provide press coverage and place adverts in local and national publications.

Tell me about the taster exhibition

We hope to have a Taster Exhibition at the Hospitium in the Museum Gardens, on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April (with delivery of work on Friday 10 April). This is an opportunity for all of our participating artists to display a piece of their work and it gives visitors a chance to plan which studios they'd like to visit. At this stage you do not need to say whether you would like to be part of this but you should make a note of the dates. More information will be circulated nearer the time.

Will I need to attend any meetings?

Yes, it is necessary for you to attend a meeting in the autumn where the YOS committee will introduce themselves, welcome new artists and give you important information about the event. There will be two meetings, each following the same agenda, and you are expected to attend one of these, on either Saturday 13 September (morning) OR Tuesday 16 September (evening).

There will also be an optional meeting/social prior to the event where new artists and people who have exhibited before can get together to share useful hints and tips on how to get the most out of York Open Studios, and a celebration social after the event.

How is York Open Studios run?

York Open Studios is run by a committee of volunteers - a mixture of YOS artists and non-artists who are passionate about the event.

See https://yorkopenstudios.co.uk/ for more information about YOS.

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