Inspired by Standen:
The Future of Arts & Crafts
An open-call opportunity for the makers, designers, craftspeople, and artisans of the UK.
Presented by Sussex Contemporary in Partnership with the National Trust.
OPEN CALL 2026
Standen House is well known for its significant expression of the ideas and principles behind the Arts & Crafts movement.
Designed by the ‘father of Arts and Crafts Architecture’ Philip Webb with interiors by William Morris & Co.
Standen embodies the belief that everyday life should be enriched by things that are both beautiful and useful
THEME
Living Standen: A Contemporary Response to the Arts & Crafts Movement
The Standen House Open Call 2026 marks the start of a beautiful partnership between the National Trust and Sussex Contemporary, offering multiple benefits if the judging panel selects your work.
Leading Exhibition: Selected works showcased in the South Room, expertly curated by our Creative Director, Jo Myles.
House Display: Key pieces curated in every room of Standen, creating a living dialogue between contemporary making, makers, and historic interiors. Curated by the National Trust’s Head of House and Collections, Ruth Young.
Selling: All selected works will be available for purchase throughout the three-month summer show.
Additional Opportunities: Selected creatives may be invited to participate in events, talks, or workshops during the exhibition’s three-month run in July, August, and September 2026.
Sussex Contemporary and the National Trust present the Standen House Open Call 2026.
An innovative exhibition inviting UK-based and UK-connected makers, designers, craftspeople, artisans, and artists to create contemporary responses to the Arts & Crafts movement.
The theme encourages submissions in media such as quilting, embroidery, painting, metalwork, tiles, domestic ware, rugs, wallpaper, furniture, dinnerware, kitchenware, glassware, lighting, textiles, ceramics, mixed media, illustration, and many more.
The works to be shown in Standen House will be selected by a panel of world-leading expert judges, chaired by Ruth Young, the Head of House and Collections at Standen.
Meet the Team
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Jo Myles
Creative Director & Founder of Sussex Contemporary
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Emmett Marsh
DESIGN DIRECTOR
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Eleanor Parks
SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
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Karl Holland
SALES MANAGER
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Jaya Dixon
MARKETING DIRECTOR
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Jamie Kokot
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
KEY INFORMATION
DATES
Open Call Launch: 12th November 2025
Submission Deadline: 31st May 2026, 23:59
Selection Results Announced: 8th June 2026
Exhibition Dates: 2nd July – 30th September 2026
Venue: Standen House, West Sussex
WHY ENTER?
Expert Panel: Your work will be seen by a panel of judges
Career-Enhancing Prizes: Significant prizes and professional opportunities for outstanding submissions. Our prize partners select prizes.
Unprecedented Access: The chance for contemporary makers to be exhibited and sold within Standen House
Engage Audiences: Reach a broad, engaged public through the National Trust’s summer visitors.
Unique Opportunity: to exhibit your work alongside Original significant Arts and Crafts artefacts and makers within a historic setting
Legacy Exhibition: Be part of an exhibition shaping the future of contemporary craft and design
WHO CAN APPLY?
Living makers, designers, craftspeople, artisans, and artists working in any medium
All career stages are encouraged to apply, be it emerging, mid-career, or established.
UK-based or UK-connected, by birth, residence, work, or education
Inclusive and open to all backgrounds, practices, and disciplines
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY: functional contemporary wares
Contribute to a brand new installation in the Dining Room that celebrates the enduring legacy of the Arts and Crafts movement through a curated selection of functional contemporary wares.
This display will explore how today’s makers reinterpret Arts and Crafts principles, honesty of materials, craftsmanship, and beauty in utility, all within the context of modern dining.
Each piece will be selected for its functionality, aesthetic quality, and alignment with Arts and Crafts values. The installation will evoke a sense of warmth, domesticity, and intentional living.
The Dining Room will be transformed into a living tableau featuring:
Hand-thrown ceramics: plates, bowls, and serving vessels.
Textiles: woven table runners, napkins, and upholstery.
Woodwork: handcrafted furniture, utensils, and serving boards.
Metalwork: artisan cutlery, candle holders, and decorative accents
HOW MUCH IS IT TO ENTER?
£20 per work, with a maximum of three entries per creative
Purchase your entry/ies on this webpage. After purchase, you will be sent an order confirmation and then a link to our creatives page, where you will find all the project information and link/s to submit your entry form/s.
TERMS & CONDITIONS & FAQs
You can read our full Ts & Cs HERE
And our FAQS can be read HERE