Submissions for the RWA Annual Open Exhibition 171 are now OPEN!

Entries for this highly anticipated open exhibition take place through the OESS portal. Click here to be taken to the applications portal and submit now!

Every year The Royal West of England Academy holds an Annual Open Exhibition, which is now in its 171st year. We welcome all kinds of artwork and expect to include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, sculpture and architecture by artists ranging from leading professionals to emerging talent, from across the UK and beyond.

A selection panel assesses every entry and last year 665 works by 455 artists made it into the final exhibition. The RWA Annual Open is the largest open in the South West. All work is for sale and the exhibition attracts art-lovers and art-buyers from far and wide.

Prizes this year include:

• The Academy Award, sponsored by the RWA and RWA Academicians | Awarded to a single work in any medium that has particularly appealed to the selectors (not open to RWA Academicians) | Prize: £5000 
• The Steele Art Prize, awarded by Tony Steele | Awarded to work reflecting contemporary society, saying things about people or place and what’s going on around us or in the world | Prize: £4000
• Niche Print Makers Award, sponsored by Niche Frames | Awarded to any work using printmaking techniques | Prize: £250 in printing and framing, and £250 cash  
• The Drawing Prize, sponsored by Fiona Robinson PRWA | Awarded to any drawing | Prize: £300 in cash  
• The Painting Prize, sponsored by Derek Balmer PPRWA | Awarded to any painting | Prize: £300 and a copy of Derek Balmer: A Singular Vision, by Andrew Lambirth
• The Floating Circle Prize, sponsored by Friends of the RWA | Awarded to a student | Prize: Interview to be featured in Floating Circle magazine, as well as a £250 cash prize 
• St Cuthberts Mill Work on Paper Prize, sponsored by St Cuthberts Paper Mill Awarded to any work on paper | Prize: 20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm 56x76cm paper worth over £120 
• Pangolin Sculpture Prize, sponsored by Pangolin Digital  | Awarded to any sculpture | Prize: A 3D digital scan of your work by Pangolin Digital Ltd.
• 2 x Cass Art Materials Awards, sponsored by Cass Art | Awarded to: Any artist | Prize: £50 voucher to spend at Cass Art  
• Cass Art Solo Show Award, sponsored by Cass Art | Awarded to any artist | Prize: Solo Show in Cass Art, Bristol Park Street store
• Evolver Magazine Cover Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any work | Prize: A cover image for the November/December issue of Evolver magazine 
• Evolver Magazine Feature Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any artist | Prize: A feature article in the November/December issue of Evolver magazine  

More prizes to be announced soon!

Key dates for RWA Annual Open 171

• Submission open: Friday 26 April 2024, midday
• Entry Deadline: Sunday 7 July 2024, 23:59
• Results Live: Monday 22 July 2024
• Hand-In days: Friday 23 August, 1 - 4pm, Saturday 24, Sunday 25, Monday 26 August 2024, 10am - 4pm
• Varnishing Day event: Friday 13 September, daytime
• Private View: Friday 13 September, evening
• Exhibition Open to Public: 14 September 2024 – 5 January 2025

Please find the submission Terms & Conditions here

Please find the FAQs here

Click here to be taken to the OESS site and submit your work now!

Image top: 170 Annual Open Exhibition, installation view, RWA, 2023. Photo: Alice Hendy.