Yardley Arts Summer Open 2026 is now open for entries, marking Yardley Arts’ first Open Call Exhibition and a new opportunity for UK-based artists to exhibit their work in a professionally curated setting in Northamptonshire. Established in 2017 and now in its ninth year, Yardley Arts has built a strong reputation for showcasing contemporary artists’ work. Taking place from 25 June to 19 July 2026, the exhibition will bring together a wide range of contemporary fine art, painting and sculpture, selected by a respected panel of art world professionals.

At Yardley Arts, alongside a full programme of courses and workshops, we also run regular exhibitions. Set in a former Victorian school hall in Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire, the gallery combines high ceilings, good natural light and simple white walls to create a clean, flexible space for showing work.

Paintings, prints, drawings and mixed media are hung using a professional system, while sculpture, glass and ceramics are displayed on plinths.

The new walled sculpture garden under construction

The exhibition will also take place in a new walled sculpture garden arranged across three levels.  The garden provides a dedicated outdoor environment for selected 3D pieces – this landscaping project is nearing completion with planting-up now underway.

Located within this historic village, which is part of the Castle Ashby Estate—known for its historic architecture, woodland and rolling countryside, it sits at the centre of the well-known Northamptonshire Walks No.1 route.

How to find us: Yardley Arts is just over an hour from London, Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham, with nearby rail connections at Wellingborough, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton. By road, it’s easily reached via the A45 from junctions 14 or 15 of the M1.

The exhibition will also be supported by a dedicated online platform to extend reach and visibility, with audiences expected to exceed 2,500 visitors in person and 10,000 online.

Who can apply?

Any UK-based artist aged 18 or over. The theme is open, allowing for a broad and diverse range of submissions.

Accepted media

painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, original framed prints, ceramics and sculpture. (Please note: photography, digital and installation work are not eligible.) All works must be wall-mounted or free-standing and must not have been previously exhibited at Yardley Arts.

Prizes include:

  • £1,000 Woodmansterne Fine Art Prize
  • £1,000 Stefanie Price Sculpture Prize
  • £200 People’s Choice Award

The selection panel includes:

  • David Mach RA – sculptor, Royal Academician and Turner Prize nominee
  • Anthony Spira – Director of MK Gallery
  • Amanda Lowther & Louise Newton – Directors of The British Art Portfolio

Submission details:

Artists may submit up to three works. Entry fees start at £10, with a maximum fee of £24 for three works. (Fees are non-refundable and support Yardley Arts’ not-for-profit programme.)

Size restrictions:

  • 2D work: maximum 1.2m in any direction (including frame)
  • 3D work: maximum 2m in any direction

As part of the wider programme, the exhibition will also feature within the popular Yardley Hastings Open Gardens event on Sunday 28 June 2026, where selected artists will create work live in participating gardens—offering a unique blend of art, landscape and community.

Submit your work. Share your voice. Be seen.

Submissions are open now and close on 12 May 2026.