SPUD is very excited to announce the title for this year’s spudOPEN HOLD NO / LET GO. Each year we look for a universal question that might resonates within our Spud Community, the New Forest National Park and with our wider reginal audiences. We feel that we are at a tipping-point, with so many relevant subjects to our area, environment, personal well-being and social relationships, now might be a good time to evaluate what to hold onto and what we might let go of. As ever we encourage you to think widely and personally on about this subject. We want to encourage and appreciated a range of views, materials, and artistic responses. We welcome a wide interpretation of the theme as it builds dialogue and discussion about these ideas that inevitably hold significance to us. 

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There are three prizes – A £100 Youth prize, £100 Public Choice and £500 for the Open Winner.  Sponsored by the New Forest National Park Authority.

 

Submitted work can be in any medium (Painting, Textiles, Photography, Print, Text based work, Jewellery, Video, Sculpture, Ceramics, Mixed Media, Poems, illustrations etc.) There is a size limit for each work - maximum scale 100cm x 100cm x 100cm. Work exceeding this will be sadly rejected.

 

Applications are to be made online and the panel will be making its selection digitally. The selection Panel this year is Caroline Rackham from the New Forest National Park Authority, Flis Pitman – Creative and Cultural Project Officer NFDC, Ted Watts - Jane Corner - artist, Joanne Ainslie - Learning, Engagement and Outreach at St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery.’ 

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Successful applications will be included in a group show to be held in our celebrated gallery over December/January, with a gala public opening and the opportunity to win ‘Best in Show’ and the very popular ‘Public Choice award’ will also be given. This is all made possible by our sponsor again this year, The New Forest National Parks Authority.

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You can make up to three applications through our online portal @spud.org.uk. Deadline for us to receive your applications is September 29th at Midnight. A successful application will be notified via email by Friday 28th Oct.  If you have not heard by this date, then you can assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. Successful applicants will need to drop off or send work to arrive at SPUD between 28th or 29th November 2024 (10am-4pm) and collect it between 13th - 14th January 2025 (10am-4pm). 

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Rejections

No one is rejected from our Open, we just can’t select everyone. Even if you do not make it into the final exhibition, you have been an important part of defining the discussions and emerging themes of the show, and your work has been seen by an important art panel. We do want you to feel that all can enter and be part of the SPUD family.

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To enter please follow the two simple steps below:

• Complete the online entry form - this will open a new page.  After completing the form please click continue to return to payment.

• Complete title of work, size of work and primary materials e.g. acrylic on canvas

• Fill out up to 50 word description of the piece of work being submitted.  Include a suggested price if you would like the work to be for sale if selected for the exhibition (SPUD commission is 25%).  Leave blank if not.

• Upload one image of the work using the entry form only - a png or jpg will work

• Alternatively you can use the URL box on the entry form to submit a link to a video file, including YouTube, Vimeo etc.

• After submitting, click continue to return to this page and Checkout, where you will be requested to pay the entry fee of £10 per entry for adults and £5 per entry for under 18s.  Entry charge is per piece of work - maximum 3 pieces of work.  Any entries not paid for will not be accepted.