Young Artist Open Exhibition

You may have heard of the Ferens Open Exhibition, but did you know we also run a Young Artist Open?

Previously known as the Junior Open, the Young Artist Open is an opportunity for budding artists aged 15 and under to show their work in a major gallery.

Since 2006, the Young Artist Open has run alongside our original Open, celebrating the incredible artistic talent of young people in Hull.

How does it work?

The exhibition begins with an open call early in the year, inviting individuals, schools and youth groups to send us their best work.

The exhibition itself takes place later in the year, usually between July–October. During the Open, young people see their work exhibited in our gallery alongside other artists from the area.

How to enter

Entries for 2023 are now closed.

Key dates
Submission of work Friday 5 May 2023 - Sunday 14 May 2023
Please note: submissions must be made to the Ferens Art Gallery, Monday–Saturday 10.30am–4pm and Sunday 11.30am–3.30pm
Notification of selected work by post Thursday 22 June 2023 onwards
Exhibition display at Ferens Art Gallery Friday 21 July 2023 – Sunday 1 October 2023
Collection of unselected works from Ferens Art Gallery Friday 7 July 2023 – Saturday 8 July 2023
Collection of selected work from Ferens Art Gallery Saturday 21 October 2023 – Sunday 29 October 2023

Prizes

We award  prizes to the best entries to the Young Artist Open in the following age categories:

  • six and under
  • seven to 11
  • 12 to 15

Prizes have kindly been donated by Friends of the Ferens and The Hull and East Riding branch of The Arts Society. 

We’ll contact the winners before the exhibition opens to let you know and invite you to a special prize-giving event.

Future Ferens Young and Emerging Talent Award

All young artists aged 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.

Friends of the Ferens Award

The following cash prizes will be given to winning entries selected by 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.

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

Get inspired

Take a look at last year’s Young Artist Open to get inspired and get creative!

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

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.

A woman and a girl taking part in a craft activity.

Support us

Like what we do? There are plenty of ways you can support your local museums and help bring world-class cultural experiences to Hull for years to come.

Find out how you can support us