THE SUSSEX 2026
SHELTER
The Sussex, our annual major showcase of artists and makers, returns for the fifth consecutive year, and for 2026 we are delighted to share that it is now open to UK-linked creatives.
Our open call for THE SUSSEX 2026 revolves around the theme of Shelter. As the world around us shifts ecologically, socially and personally, the questions of where we find shelter and how we shape our habitats have never felt more urgent or more universal.
Creatives are invited to explore these powerful themes, exploring the meanings of home, protection and belonging in ways that are as broad and imaginative as the words themselves. Submissions will then be judged and selected for the final exhibition by a leading panel of judges.
THEME
THE SUSSEX 2026 invites artists and makers to explore the theme of SHELTER.
What does this word mean in a world of shifting landscapes, whether personal, social, or environmental?
Shelter is more than protection; habitat is more than a place.
This exhibition calls for creative responses to the spaces we build, see and share, whether lasting or fleeting, visible or hidden.
Artists are encouraged to interpret these ideas broadly, making visible the architectures of care, belonging and imagination that shape our lives.
Shelter is more than a roof or a refuge. It is the soft boundary between vulnerability and safety, the threshold where the outside world recedes, and the inner world takes shape. For some, shelter is a memory carried across borders; for others, it is the fragile promise of a new beginning. Shelter might be found in the dappled light of a woodland, the curve of a coastline or the warmth of a shared studio.
Shelter is layered with meaning. It is the wild and the cultivated, the accidental and the intentional. It is the ecosystem of relationships, be that human, animal, architectural and ecological that sustains us. In an age of environmental precarity and shifting social landscapes, habitat becomes both a question and a call. How do we care for the spaces and communities that give us life? How do we adapt, rebuild, and imagine new shelters for the future?
The Sussex 2025 ‘The Art of Everyday Life’
PRIZES
Submissions will be judged and selected for the final exhibition by an independent panel of judges. Selected artists will also be eligible for one of four prizes, offering opportunities beyond the exhibition itself, including mentoring, exhibitions, materials and commissioned work. Find out more about the prizes below.
Sussex Contemporary Founder & Creative Director Jo Myles with The Sussex 2025 Artelium Artefact Prize Winner Katherine Rabson Stark
HOW DO I ENTER?
Purchase your entry
You purchase your entry/ies here on our website. You can purchase a single entry, two entries or three entries.
Entries are capped at 2,500. We recommend purchasing your entry before you are ready to submit to avoid disappointment.
Access the submission form
After you have paid for your entry/ies, you will receive an order confirmation email, followed by a separate email with the link and password to our private artists’ page.
Here you'll find information about how to price your work, take photographs and prepare your submission, along with a link to the submission form.
Submit your work
Use the link to submit your work, and you will be taken to our submission platform, where the form will guide you through the process of submitting your artwork.
Click HERE to see a PDF of the submission form questions.
Submission confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email once you have submitted your work. Please make sure you enter your email address correctly on the submission form.
Blind judging
Every entry will be reviewed by our panel of judges. During the judging process, judges will only see your artwork image, title, size and medium. They will not see your name.
This is what we mean by blind judging. The artist's name is only revealed after the final round of judging, once the exhibition hang has been confirmed.
Results
Once the exhibition hang has been finalised, we will let all artists know whether their work has been selected.
Successful artists will receive details of which of their submissions has been selected, along with information about the next steps. Unsuccessful submissions will receive a simpler email confirming that their work has not been selected.
Feedback
Due to the high volume of entries, we are unable to offer individual feedback on submissions.
WHAT PREVIOUS PRIZE WINNERS SAY
“Jo and I met every month for lunch or coffee and it was so good to know that I would have a chance to discuss things that I usually dealt with alone. Jo is always welcoming, often funny, enthusiastic and encouraging.
Having Jo working beside me, and offering her insights have enabled me to feel more confident about asking for what I need and also saying no. I feel in a stronger position to make choices and to develop my practice.”
Josephine Sweeting, Business of Art Prize winner 2025“I entered Sussex Contemporary on a whim, having recently moved down to Sussex from London. I was impressed and attracted by the quality and values of SC, more than any other open call, because they showed a deep consideration not only for the curation of the exhibition, but also for the genuine value offered to the artists taking part.
With over 1,500 artists submitting their work in 2024, I already felt immense gratitude simply to be included. But when I was announced as the Photography Prize winner, it became a moment of renewal, both in my belief in my work and in my confidence, especially after having taken a two-year break from photography. With Jo at the helm, I felt fully supported as an artist, and soon after, I began receiving invitations and opportunities not only through Jo and SC, but also within the growing Sussex artist network.”
Milo Osborn, Photography Prize winner 2024KEY INFORMATION
-
Entries cost £15 each with a maximum of 3 submissions per artist/creative.
-
The opportunity is open to any artist who is connected to the UK 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 the UK.
By doing so, it encourages the exchange of ideas and artistic expression that reflect the UK’s unique cultural identity and heritage, while also fostering a sense of belonging and pride among those who contribute to its creative landscape.
-
Submissions open: 10th November 2025
Submission close: 30th September 2026
Artists notified of results: w/c 12th October 2026
Artwork drop-off day: 3rd November 2026
Preview evening: 7th November 2026
Exhibition open: 7th November 2026
Exhibition closes: 29th November 2026
Artwork collection day: 29th November 4pm - 6pm or 30th November 9am - 12pm
-
Click HERE to see a PDF of the submission form questions.
-
Please read the Terms & Conditions of entry. By purchasing your entry and submitting via our submission platform, you are required to accept these READ HERE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-
Every submission is reviewed by an independent panel of judges. For the initial judging process, the judges see the artwork image along with its title, size and medium, but not the artist’s name. The artist’s name is only revealed after the final round of judging and the exhibition hang has been confirmed.
-
The Sussex 2026 will be selected by an independent panel of judges, bringing together different perspectives and experience from across the creative and art world. We’ll be introducing the members of the judging panel throughout the open call, so keep an eye on our website and social channels to meet the people selecting the exhibition.
-
Yes. If you submit more than one artwork, it is possible for more than one to be selected, as each submission is judged on its own merits. Due to the volume of submissions, we’re unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful entries.
-
Artists will be notified of the results during the week commencing 12 October 2026. Successful artists will then receive information about their selected artwork and the arrangements for exhibiting it.
-
Successful artists will receive information about preparing their work for the exhibition, including artwork delivery, presentation and collection arrangements. Your artwork will need to be delivered to the exhibition venue on the specified drop-off date and must be ready to exhibit.
-
The artwork drop-off day is 3 November 2026 at BN9 Studio in Newhaven. Your artwork must be ready to hang or display when it arrives, with suitable hanging hardware or display equipment where required. If you cannot deliver the work yourself, you can arrange for someone else to deliver it on your behalf. Artists are responsible for the costs of transporting their artwork to and from the exhibition.
-
No. There are no additional exhibition or selection fees if your artwork is selected. Artists are responsible for the costs of transporting their artwork to and from the exhibition. If your artwork sells, a 30% gallery commission is deducted from the sale.
-
Selected artwork will be available to purchase during the exhibition. The artist sets the selling price and Sussex Contemporary takes a 30% gallery commission on sales. Artwork remains on display until the exhibition closes, after which buyers can arrange collection. If a buyer cannot collect, we’ll connect them with the artist to arrange delivery directly. Any additional postage, packing or delivery costs can be passed on to the buyer.
-
Submissions open: 10 November 2025
Submissions close: 30 September 2026
Artists notified: w/c 12 October 2026
Artwork drop-off: 3 November 2026
Preview evening: 7 November 2026
Exhibition: 7–29 November 2026
Artwork collection: 29 November, 4–6pm, or 30 November, 9am–12pm
-
Yes. The Sussex 2026 includes a number of prizes offering selected artists opportunities beyond the exhibition itself. These include the Artelium Artefact Prize, Seawhite of Brighton Prize and The Business of Art Prize plus a new prize for 2026 the Harvey Lloyd Prize. Full details are available on the main open-call page.
-
Artwork collection takes place after the exhibition closes:
29 November 2026, 4–6pm
30 November 2026, 9am–12pm
Artists are responsible for arranging collection and transporting their artwork home.
-
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the FAQs or Terms & Conditions, please get in touch with the Sussex Contemporary team on hello@sussexcontemporary.com and we’ll be happy to help.
-
The Sussex 2026 is open to artists and creatives who have a meaningful connection to the UK through residence, birthplace, education or work. We welcome artists working across all disciplines, at every stage of their creative practice.
-
The Sussex 2026 is open to artists working across a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, jewellery, photography, ceramics, mixed media and illustration, as well as larger installations, audio, video and more.
For printmaking, we welcome original prints created using recognised printmaking techniques, including etching, engraving, linocut, woodcut, screen printing and lithography. We do not accept giclée prints, digital reproductions or other reproduction prints of original artworks.
-
Shelter can mean many things, and we’re deliberately leaving the theme open to interpretation. Your work might explore ideas of home, protection, belonging, habitat or refuge, or consider the spaces, relationships and environments that help us feel safe and connected.
-
You can submit up to three artworks, with each submission costing £15. You don’t need to enter three works.
-
Yes. We welcome both new and existing work, provided it fits the theme of Unfold and meets the exhibition requirements. All submissions are judged on their quality, originality and how well they respond to the theme, regardless of whether the work has been exhibited before.
-
If your diptych or triptych is sold as one artwork, it counts as one submission. If the parts can be bought separately, each piece must be entered as its own submission. Please note that if entered separately, there is no guarantee both parts would be selected.
-
Entries cost £15 per artwork, with a maximum of three entries. Once you have purchased your entries, you’ll receive a link to the private artists’ page, which includes the submission form and information about preparing your work. Please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t receive this email. The submission form will guide you through providing your artwork details and uploading an image. The maximum image file size is 1MB.
-
Yes. You can submit work that has been exhibited previously, provided it is available for the duration of exhibition if selected.
-
Yes. We welcome installation, audio and video work. If your work requires specialist equipment to display or play it, you will need to provide this if selected, as the BN9 Studio does not have audio or video equipment available. For installation work, please provide clear information about its specifications and how it should be presented.
Please note that the final presentation of a work may need to be adapted to suit the gallery space, practical considerations and the exhibition as a whole. The curator will determine the most appropriate presentation of the selected works within the available space. Where possible, artists are welcome to assist with the installation of their work.
-
Entries close on 30 September 2026. Unfortunately, we cannot accept late submissions once the closing date has passed, as the judging process begins shortly afterwards.
The Judges
We’re delighted to announce the first judge joining our panel for the Shelter Open Call. Further judge announcements will follow over the coming weeks.
Anthony Burrill
Anthony Burrill is a graphic artist known for distilling ideas into bold, simple forms. Combining analogue craft with optimistic messaging, his work communicates with clarity and impact. Through collaborations spanning music, architecture, education, and culture, he continues to expand the possibilities of letterpress printing.
Rooted in a belief in the power of words, humour, and direct communication, Burrill’s distinctive style reflects a commitment to simplicity, curiosity, and creativity without boundaries.
His work is held in the permanent collections of the V&A, The Design Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt, and has been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Royal Academy, Walker Art Center, Triennale Milano, and Stedelijk Museum Breda.
Born in Lancashire, Burrill studied Graphic Design at Leeds Polytechnic and completed an MA at the Royal College of Art. He now lives and works in Rye, East Sussex.
Photographer credit - Mark Henderson
Graphic Artist
THE SUSSEX 2026 PRIZES
-
Artelium Artefact Prize
The 3rd year of this superb prize with previous winners being Rosie Mortimer (2024), and Katharine Rabson Stark (2025). The winning artist will be commissioned to make a work for Artelium’s growing collection of Artefact artworks and create wine labels for the relevant Artefact wines. Along with these is a solo exhibition, hosted at their Streat vineyard in September 2027, which is supported by the art manager at Artelium.
-
SEAWHITE OF BRIGHTON PRIZE
Seawhite’s have been a supporter of Jo since she founded the company back in 2021. The SEAWHITE prize is held in memory of SHAUN TOBIN seawhite’s previous CEO who sadly passed away in 2023.
The winning artist will receive £1000 worth of Seawhite vouchers, a solo exhibition at thier Partridge Green showroom and the opportunity to create commisioned artwork for a product within thier extensive range of art materials.
-
THE BUSINESS OF ART PRIZE
The winning artist will receive 12 x one to one mentoring sessions with our creative director Jo Myles. As well as access to our annual programme of talks and workshops THE BUSINESS OF ART.
-
Harvey Lloyd Prize
A BRAND NEW PRIZE FOR 2026
The winning creative will be selected by Steve & Tracey and will get the chance to work with them both via zoom to prepare and plan an original screen print before spending the day in the print studio tp produce and print a ltd edition of 10 finished A2 original art screen prints using up to 3 colours.
Harvey Lloyd Screens is a distinguished screen-printing studio based in Wadhurst, East Sussex, widely recognised for its long-standing collaboration with leading contemporary artists, illustrators, and designers. Established in 1976, the studio has remained at the same site for decades, building a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost specialist print workshops. Its longevity reflects both technical expertise and an ability to adapt to the evolving demands of the creative industries while preserving the craft traditions of screen printing.
From its beginnings, Harvey Lloyd Screens positioned itself not simply as a commercial printer, but as a creative partner. The studio works closely with artists to translate ideas into high-quality printed works, often involving experimentation with inks, papers, and layering techniques. This collaborative ethos has made it particularly attractive to artists whose work depends on bold graphic language and precise colour reproduction all qualities for which screen printing is especially suited.
