HASTINGS CONTEMPORARY + SUSSEX CONTEMPORARY
PRESENT:
Odyssey
Hastings Contemporary and Sussex Contemporary have partnered to launch their first Open exhibition, bringing together emerging and established artists from across the region and celebrating all things Sussex.
Spanning the entire gallery, this landmark collaboration celebrates 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 for the inaugural open exhibition in partnership with Hastings Contemporary.
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 Hastings Contemporary’s mission and its engagement 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.
As shorelines are redrawn and familiar maps dissolve, we ask:
What new stories will artists tell of the journeys already made and those yet to come?
ELIGIBILITY
The opportunity is open to any artist who is connected to Sussex through residence, birthplace, education, or work.
This inclusive approach aims to celebrate the region’s diverse and vibrant creative community, welcoming artists from all disciplines and backgrounds who share a meaningful link to Sussex.
By doing so, it encourages the exchange of ideas and artistic expression that reflect the area’s unique cultural identity and heritage, while also fostering a sense of belonging and pride among those who contribute to its creative landscape.
KEY INFORMATION
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Please read the Terms & Conditions of Odyssey. By purchasing your entry and submitting via our submission platform, you are required to accept these READ HERE
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Click HERE to read our FAQ
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Submissions open: 13th October 2025
Submission close: 18th January 2026
Artists notified of results: w/c 16th February 2026
Artwork drop-off day: 19th March 2026
Preview evening: 27th March 2026
Exhibition open: 28th March 2026
Exhibition closes: 31st May 2026
Artwork collection day: 4th June 2026
About Odyssey
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KEY DATES
Submissions Open: October 10th, 2025
Submissions Close: Jan 18th, 2026
Exhibition Open: 28th March 2026
Exhibition Close: 31st May 2026
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PRIZES
Hastings Contemporary Prize - Sussex Spotlight hang in Hastings Contemporary. A new and dynamic area dedicated to creative excellence within the county. Selected by Kathleen Soriano.
Sussex Contemporary Prize - 2 x fully funded spots in our February 2027 democratic exhibition. Access to our Business of Art programme and 3 x mentoring sessions with Jo Myles.
MORE PRIZES TBA…
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JUDGES
Kathleen Soriano is an independent curator, art historian, and broadcaster. With over 35 years’ experience in the art world she has been responsible for collections, contemporary and historical exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Royal Academy of Arts, where she was Artistic Director (2009–2014), as well as at Compton Verney Art Gallery, where she was Director (2005–2009). In 2004 she became one of the first cohort of Clore Leadership Fellows.
In addition to curating many successful exhibitions, she has lectured and written extensively. Her book Madam and Eve, on women artists, was published in April 2018. Her broadcast activities include the six Portrait and Landscape Artist of the Year series for Sky Arts.
The Full panel of Judges will be announced over the next few months.
HOW IT WORKS…
After you purchase your entry/entries on our website, you will receive an email confirming your purchase. We send out links to our closed artists’ page once a day (in the morning). Here, you will find all the exhibition information, videos, and blogs on improving your submission, like taking images of your artwork, a formula for pricing your work, and other top tips from our Creative Director, Jo Myles.
Most importantly, you’ll also find the link/s to our submission platform, where you can upload your image and fill in the ever-important form. You’ll need artwork measurements in cm and its weight in KG, so it’s worth reading all the info before you get started on your submission.
It’s a really exciting opportunity to have your work hung in the divine architectural beauty that is Hastings Contemporary. Submissions close on the 18th January 2026, so secure your space by purchasing your entry and get the date marked up in your diary so you don’t miss the submission deadline.
We can’t wait to see what you enter.
Best of luck,
Hastings Contemporary & Sussex Contemporary
Kathleen Soriano - Director of Hastings Contemporary
“Hastings Contemporary is proud to support the distinctive creativity that is to be found in the town and the region through its commitment to its first biennial Open exhibition in Spring 2026.
As a gallery that is an exemplar of localism, of pride of place, we want to work with artists and our communities to celebrate the wealth of talent around us, investing in richer and deeper relationships so that we can collectively shout loud and proud about all that we do to elevate the value, as well as the presence of culture and creativity in our lives..”
Jo Myles - Creative Director Sussex Contemporary
“We’re thrilled to announce this exciting new partnership with Hastings Contemporary and Sussex Contemporary. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to championing contemporary art, supporting emerging and established artists, and engaging our communities in meaningful, innovative ways.
By joining forces, we’re creating new opportunities to share resources, exchange ideas, and amplify the creative voices that define our region.
Together, we can create dynamic cultural experiences that resonate locally and beyond. We can’t wait to see where this partnership takes us — and we look forward to welcoming everyone on this inspiring journey.”