ODYSSEY 2026 ARTIST INFORMATION
single submission
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Image Submission
A good image is key in digitally judged open-calls. Jo has written a guide on how to take a great photo with your smartphone HERE.
We ask that image files be no bigger than 1MB. There are several image resizer sites out there. We have found this one to be reliable (no affiliation) https://imageresizer.com/
2-D works
We suggest removing work from the frame and cropping the image so it is filled with as much of the artwork as possible.
3-D works
Set up a clear background and let your creation take centre stage. Think about the best angle that shows the work at its best.
Audio & Video works
We suggest using a compression link. The team can expand it for the judges to read or view, so you don’t have to compromise on quality.
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Key Dates
Submissions open 13th October 2025
Submissions close 18th January 2026
Artists informed of results 18th February 2026
Artist drop off artwork day 20th March 2026
Preview evening 27th March 2026
Exhibition opens 28th March 2026
Exhibition closes 31st May 2026
Artist artwork collection day 4th June 2026
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Join us
A series of dates when the Hastings Contemporary team and Jo will give tours of the space and discuss the project.
Soon to be announced…
We will send out an email and announce here as well so do check back regularly
Hastings Contemporary and Sussex Contemporary have partnered to launch their first Open exhibition.
This landmark collaboration will bring together emerging and established artists from across the region, celebrating all things Sussex. Spanning the entire gallery, the exhibition will celebrate the diversity, energy, and innovation of contemporary art today, offering a platform for bold voices and fresh perspectives.
Theme: Odyssey
We invite artists to respond to the theme Odyssey. This theme reflects on journeys shaped by tides, time, and transformation, on the restless call of the sea and the stories it inspires. Hastings, a place long defined by its proximity to the coast, provides a fitting setting for such explorations.
We welcome work that resonates with our mission and engages with marine ecology, climate change, and the fragile richness of coastal life. Odyssey may evoke many narratives, from ancient maritime myths to contemporary migration, from the eroding edges of land to intimate personal voyages, from legends carried by the waves to the shifting realities of rising seas.
Open to any artist with a connection to Sussex.
SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK
Let's check if you're ready to submit…
Have you read the terms & conditions?
Have you resized your image/file to 1MB? (use this link to do so)
Remember to factor in the 30% commission when pricing your work. Jo has a simple formula you can use:
all materials + time taken to create + submission fee = cost
cost (divided by) 100 x 130 = sale price including commision
ALL WORKS MUST BE FOR SALE
Good luck with your submission!
