Ferens Art Gallery Open Exhibition

The Open Exhibition is our annual celebration of Hull's incredible artistic talent. Established in 1967, the exhibition is open to everyone – from new and emerging artists to established pros.

It’s an opportunity for local artists to display and sell their work. As well as for visitors to get an insight into the thriving art community in the city.

How does it work?

The exhibition begins with an open call early in the year, inviting artists from all practices and backgrounds to send us their best work. Our selectors then have the difficult challenge of choosing which pieces to include for exhibition.

The exhibition itself takes place later in the year, usually between July–October. During the exhibition, visitors can enjoy hundreds of amazing local artworks, from paintings and photography, to sculpture and ceramics, to video and performance. Many of the works are also for sale – giving you an opportunity to own a unique piece of art for your home, created right here in Hull.

Submit an Artwork

Entries for 2023 are now closed.

Key Dates
Online submissions open 9am Tuesday 7 March 2023
Online submissions close Midnight Tuesday 28 March 2023
Notification by email Wednesday 3 May 2023
Notification by email Thursday 22 June - Wednesday 28 June 2023
Preview Thursday 20 July 2023
Exhibition display Friday 21 July - Sunday 1 October 2023
Collection of artwork Saturday 7 October - Sunday 15 October 2023

Selectors

Every year, artworks are selected by a panel of artists and experts from our local community. This year’s selections were made by Nahem Shoa, Divya Sharma and Scott Langthorp.

Friends of the Ferens award

The following cash prizes will be given to winning entries, selected by the Friends of the Ferens -

  • First prize - £350
  • Second prize - £250
  • Third prize - £200

Chair’s award – Hull Culture & Leisure

An award of £100 will go to the winning entry selected by Hull Culture and Leisure Chair Alison Collinson.

People’s Vote Award

A cash prize of £100 will be awarded to the entry most selected by visitors to the 2023 Open exhibition.

Future Ferens Young and Emerging Talent Award

All young artists age 16 to 25 are eligible for this prize.

An award of £150 will go to an artist selected by BSB Architecture and the Future Ferens, young people’s collective.

Prize money for this award has been kindly donated by BSB Architecture.

Keep up with all the latest from the Ferens Open 2023 on social media

Twitter @HullFerens
Instagram @ferensartgallery
Facebook www.facebook.com/ferensartgallery
Hashtag #FerensOpen

The Ferens Art Gallery Open Exhibition is made possible with thanks to kind sponsorship from Friends of the Ferens Art Gallery and BSB Architecture.

Upcoming events

Join us to celebrate the creativity of our local artists in Hull’s annual Open Exhibition at Ferens Art Gallery. 21 July to Sunday 1 October 2023.

  

Discover work by budding young artists at Ferens Art Gallery this summer. Visit the Young Artist Open Exhibition from 21 July to Sunday 1 October 2023.