Exhibit your artwork for millions to see
Open Call for Artists
APPLICATIONS FOR SEASON 3 ARE NOW CLOSED
The Gallery exhibits contemporary art in public space to stimulate debate about the important questions of our time.
Continuing this mission, we invite artists from around the world to respond to the theme:
No But Where Are You Really From?
We live in a globalised world of international travel and mass migration. Over the centuries, peoples, animals, plants and pathogens have continuously crisscrossed the Earth’s oceans and continents. So, what part does place still play in identity?
The Gallery’s Season 3 theme encourages artists to ask timely questions about origin, inclusivity, belonging, transition and exchange. The theme also invites artists to consider what it feels like to be excluded or denied on the one hand, and accepted and embraced on the other.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked where I’m really from, so I know first-hand how relevant this season’s theme still is today.”
Bakul Pakti, Guest Curator, The Gallery
The 10 selected proposals will be reproduced at scale and displayed for millions to see in public sites traditionally reserved for advertising across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This is an opportunity for artistic exposure on a grand scale and to be part of the national debate.
Founded in 2022, The Gallery exhibits on street billboards, digital screens, bus shelters and cinemas. To date the artworks have been seen over 120 million times by people across the UK.
Produced by Artichoke and conceived in collaboration with Creative Director and public artist Martin Firrell, this major project is supported by the Out-of-Home* industry.
*The term Out-of-Home refers to any visual advertising media found outside of the home, including on-street billboards, digital screens, bus-shelters and train stations.
What you get
Artists will be supported to develop and adapt their work for outdoor presentation. They will also receive ongoing mentoring and advice during the process.
All artists receive:
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A fee of £2,000
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Support from Creative Director Martin Firrell
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Support from our exhibition Guest Curator Bakul Patki
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An international platform to exhibit work including through the dedicated website at thegallery.org.uk
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The services of a designer to format the artwork for digital and print if required
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Costs of production, mounting, and leasing of the advertising spaces
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Selected photographic documentation of the artwork displayed outdoors
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Scheduled online meet-ups with fellow contributing artists and team
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Participation in online discussion regarding making art for the public realm
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Invitation to exhibition launch in September 2023. If based in the UK, standard travel and one night’s accommodation will be included. For artists based outside of the UK, a travel stipend of £200 towards any/all travel expenses, including visa fees and one night’s accommodation is included.
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For those based outside the UK, Artichoke will explore additional means of support towards travel costs where possible (e.g from Embassies, Trusts and Foundations).
Theme
The theme for Season 3 is:
No But Where Are You Really From?
We live in a globalised world of international travel and mass migration. Over the centuries, peoples, animals, plants and pathogens have continuously crisscrossed the Earth’s oceans and continents. So, what part does place still play in identity?
The Gallery’s Season 3 theme encourages artists to ask timely questions about origin, inclusivity, belonging, transition and exchange. The theme also invites artists to consider what it feels like to be excluded or denied on the one hand, and accepted and embraced on the other.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked where I’m really from, so I know first-hand how relevant this season’s theme still is today.”
Bakul Pakti, Guest Curator, The Gallery
The successful works will be selected for their artistic quality, their visual impact in public space, and their ability to generate conversation and public debate.
Eligibility
The call is open to all practitioners aged 18+, working at any level, including students. Artists can be based anywhere in the world. This initiative exists to champion ground-breaking artworks by artists at any stage of their practice.
Collaborative applications as a group or collective are eligible (fee remains at £2,000).
Submissions must be proposals for two-dimensional static works in any media. This includes, but is not limited to: photography, painting, drawing, text work, prints, mixed media and collage.
Inclusion and diversity
Artichoke is committed to equality and diversity in all opportunities provided. We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, ages, genders, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and from those who identify as having a disability or consider themselves neurodivergent.
We ask demographic questions in the application form, but this information is not mandatory, and you can choose not to complete this part of the form if you prefer. To ensure that a diversity of voices is represented in the exhibition, the selection process will not be anonymous, and the selection panel will have access to the demographic information provided if artists choose to include this in their application form.
Asking for demographic information also helps us to monitor how well we are reaching our organisational aims. In addition, we may be required to report on this data as part of funding agreements.
All information will be kept securely in line with General Data Protection Regulations, and any data submitted to a funder will be amalgamated and anonymised.
Application Questions
We recommend preparing your answers before filling out your online application. Please find the questions and character limits below.
We also ask for contact details and demographic information.
1. Please share your artist bio. This is a short professional biography which can include career highlights, education and a summary of your work.
(Max 1,250 characters, including spaces)
2. Describe your existing or proposed artwork.
(Max 5,000 characters, including spaces)
3. How does your artwork relate to the Season 3 theme: ‘No But Where Are You Really From?’
(Max 3,500 characters, including spaces)
NOW CLOSED:
23:59 BST, Sunday 23 April 2023
Please download and read the Open Call Information Pack below before you complete the online application form. This pack includes:
- Guidance about preparing and uploading your submission
- Terms and Conditions
- Frequently asked questions
Open Call Information Pack (PDF)
Welsh Translation (Pecyn Gwybodaeth) PDF
Welsh Translation (Pecyn Gwybodaeth) Plain Text Document
Open Call Information Pack (Plain Text Document)
Open Call Information Pack (Large Print – Word Document)
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Applications are now closed
If you are unable to apply online, the application form is also available to download below as a Word Document. If you do so, please send your form to us via email: TheGallery@artichoke.uk.com.
You can also print and post your form to the following address:
ARTIST OPEN CALL
Artichoke Trust 28
Commercial Street
London
E1 6AB
Your postal application needs to reach us on or before the deadline date: 23:59 BST, Sunday 23 April 2023
Application Form (Word Document) – Please use only if you are not able to apply online via the button above
Ffurflen Gais (Word Document) – Defnyddiwch dim ond os na allwch wneud cais ar-lein drwy’r botwm uchod
Getting help to apply:
We are very happy to answer any questions. Please get in touch if you need:
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Any help with completing your application
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This information in a different format
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To apply in a different format
