Submissions invited for Baltic’s Second Open Exhibition

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead has published its Call for Entries for the Baltic’s second open-call exhibition.

Eligible artists are invited to submit artwork from Wednesday 11 October for a major open-call exhibition due to open at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in March 2024.

West Side of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in 2022
Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Features of this art competition

Who can enter?

People based in North East England who are artists, makers, self-taught creatives and hobbyists 

“The response to our very first open-call in 2020 was overwhelming and showed how much talent we have here in the region. And now we’re opening up another opportunity for people to submit their artwork – in any medium from painting and ceramics to sound and video - to be a part of what I hope will be a truly joyful and special exhibition.”

You must be based in the North East of England. Those residing in the following postcodes are eligible: NE, DL, DH, SR, TS and TD.

What can you enter?

• All media is eligible for submission, examples include painting, drawing, sculpture, film, tapestry, photography.
• Artworks of a maximum specified size limit of 100 x 100 cm for wall-based works and 100 x 100 cm at the base for floor-based 3D works.
• there are weight limits
• The total weight of wall-based artworks must be no more than 10 kg when packed.
• The total weight of 3D artworks must be no more than 80 kg when packed.
• Any suspended artworks must weigh no more than 50 kg.
• Baltic cannot accept works that contain food substances, noxious or toxic substances, have flammability below 50°C, contain human or animal tissue, or incorporate dangerous electrical appliances. All electrical appliances will be PAT tested by Baltic upon arrival.
• Baltic stands to denounce racism and discrimination in all its forms and will not accept any works that communicate any form of racism or discrimination.

Who will select the artwork for the exhibition?

Artworks will be selected by a panel including 

• Jasmina Cibic, artist;
• Paul Smith, musician, and lead singer of Maxïmo Park;
• Niomi Fairweather, Baltic Curator (Local);
• Rose Mcmurray, Baltic Curatorial Assistant and
• a representative of the Open Submission exhibition partner Fenwick, Newcastle Upon Tyne, who are supporting the exhibition and visual arts in the North East.

Exhibition

The exhibition, in Baltic’s Ground Floor gallery between March and September 2024, will present 

• up to 100 works drawn from the OPEN submissions 
• alongside work by several established artists including: 
• Holly Hendry (pictured here), London-based sculptor and installation artist who explores what lives beneath the surface, from hidden underground spaces to the interior workings of the body
• Phyllis Christopher, Newcastle-based photographer known for documenting LGBTQ+ sexuality and protest in 1980s/1990s San Francisco
• British institution, household name and prolific painter Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) whose submission is a newly completed unseen work.

This year, the exhibition is being presented in association with Fenwick, whose flagship department store has been a mainstay of the North East for more than 140 years.

Timeline

  This call out is free to enter and open to anyone based in the North East of England.

• Wednesday 11 October 2023: Submission process opens. 
• Monday 27 November 2023: Last day for postal entries to be received.
• Monday 27 November 2023, 10am: Deadline to submit your work online.
• Friday 12 January 2024, 6pm: All successful applicants contacted.
• Monday 22 January 2024: Press Announcement. 
• February (To be Announced): Participants to deliver the works selected for the exhibition at Baltic. The timing and process for this will be confirmed in detail to each participant closer to the time.
• 15 March 2024: Exhibition Preview
• 16 March – 01 September 2024: Exhibition open to the public.

Application

• Baltic Open Submission in association with Fenwick
• This is another page which provides the Guidelines and Submission Page
• Applications can be submitted online now via Submittable. Please follow this link.

Want some Tips?

For all those 

• looking for tips on your application or 
• having any questions about the process

The Baltic has organised both 

• an online and in-person drop-in session 
• on Thursday 2 November 
• with Curators and panellists Niomi Fairweather and Rose McMurray. 

Simply show up at Baltic on the day or request a Zoom link via open@baltic.art