Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Entries for Pastel Society's 126th Annual Exhibition 2025 - closing soon.

Somehow or other I neglected to do my normal Call for Entries for the Annual Exhibition of The Pastel Society. Below is me making up for this omission in time for the deadline foe entries to the 126th Annual Exhibition 2025

This is your chance to take part in a contemporary, adventurous and creative show, presenting a positive challenge to those with pre-conceived ideas about pastel and dry media.
This is an OPEN ART EXHIBITION. If you submit and are selected for the exhibition your artwork will be
  • included in the catalogue
  • seen by visitors to the Mall Galleries - and it gets a lot of visitors
  • viewed online via the Mall Galleries website and that of the Pastel Society - before, during and after the Exhibition
  • eligible for a number of prizes & awards - and some have significant cash awards.

Pastel Society | Annual Exhibition 2025 | Key Facts

What drew me to the Pastel Society was the thought of being surrounding by other people fascinated by dry media in particular
Curtis Holder
Venue: Mall Galleries, The Mall, London
Dates: 
  • Exhibition: Wednesday 22 January - Saturday 8 February
  • Private View: Tuesday 21 January
  • The Pastel Society Art Event Evening: Tuesday 28 January, 6pm to 8:30pm
Submissions: 
  • ONLINE ONLY and open until 12 noon Friday 15 November 2024
  • Notification of selection: Friday 29 November, 12 noon
  • Receiving Day (if selected): Saturday 11 January 2025, 10am to 5pm
  • Find out more about how to enter:  
This is a video about the exhibition and the Call for Entries

Call for Entries

Artists are invited to submit work in pastel and dry media for the Pastel Society’s 
126th Annual Exhibition, BENCHMARK, sponsored by Caran d'Ache.

Who is eligible to enter? 

  • This is an OPEN exhibition and is not limited to work by members.
  • This exhibition also has works exhibited by people who live outside the UK. There is no restriction of where you live. It's open to artists in the UK, EU, and outside the EU
  • Any artist over 18 may submit.

What media is acceptable for entries?

  • All types of pastel including: soft pastel, hard pastel, oil pastel, ink pastel, water-based pastel, conté crayons or sticks, sanguine, and other dry mediums that are similar in their application including charcoal, chalk, and pencil. 

Mixed media works are welcome where pastel or another dry media is the primary medium. Such work should be submitted with a full description of the media used and any process which has been employed in the finished work beyond drawing and painting, e.g. printing, photography.
Bottom line - no sleight of hand! This exhibition emphasises the use of dry media and the expertise of the artist in using it.

What can you enter?

  • Maximum of six works each BUT only a maximum of four works per artist may be selected.
  • Work MUST 
    • an original creation by the artist
    • have been completed within two years prior to the exhibition and 
    • not have been exhibited previously at Mall Galleries (in any exhibition)
  • Dimensions: Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.

What does it cost to enter?

There is a non-refundable submission fee - which includes FREE admission to the exhibition:
  • £20 per work
  • however this is reduced to £14 per work for artists aged 35 or under.
I must confess I've never heard of an artist being charged to enter an exhibition that they've got an artwork in. Friends, family and hangers on of course must pay - but the artist? Did this really use to happen?

TIP: The cost of your submission depends on:
  • how good your work is;
  • how discriminating you are at submitting works with a good chance of being exhibited - and if you have not seen the exhibition in person I recommend you check out my posts at the end about past exhibitions
  • how much you want to become a member of this society
  • Whether you've done your homework on costs of entry

If selected from the digital entry, how must an artwork be presented for hanging?

All work MUST be framed and glazed with picture glass 
  • UNLESS a dispensation is applied for and accepted by the Society and Mall Galleries in special circumstances.
  • Frames must be capable of being mirror plated with 12mm (size 6 screws) (see my blog post How to hang a painting - using mirror plates. This explains what will happen to attach your frame to the wall. Do NOT attach your own mirror plates.
  • Frames should be plain and simple.
  • Metal frames, unprotected glass edges and clip frames are inadmissible. 
  • All fittings and fixings MUST be removed from the back of frames, e.g. D-rings and picture wire. 

How to deliver artwork - ONLY for those who art is pre-selected online

There will be a sign to show you
where to go!
If pre-selected from the online submission for hanging, artwork should be delivered 
  • to the gallery's rear entrance at Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD (down the spiral staircase to the basement)
  • unwrapped with the relevant form and labels, which are downloadable upon notification of selection.
  • AND all packaging must be taken away at the point of delivery.
The information about how to enter includes a list of couriers who regularly deliver artwork to the Mall Galleries.

You need to pick one who will unwrap your artwork for delivery, retain the packaging and wrap and return it to you if not sold.

You can also view my review of art couriers on this page UK & Ireland Art Movers & Couriers & Fine Art Transport Services of my Art Business Info. for Artists website

All work must be for sale.

  • There is a minimum price per work of £400.  The price should be
    • the selling price, including commission payable to the galleries, and is the price at which the work will be sold.
    • inclusive of commission of 45% +VAT if an artist is registered for VAT
  • Note the detailed terms and conditions of sale i.e. 
    • Once work has been submitted, any sale made by the gallery before or during the course of the exhibition up to and including the collection day shall take precedence and supersede one made privately. Any private sale made in this period will incur the normal commission.
    • Unless otherwise advised, the gallery will charge a commission on the total price paid for works, including commissioned works, before, during, or as a result of the exhibition.
    • Mall Galleries reserves the right to query the price of works.
    • The price of works may only be changed by written agreement between the artist and Mall Galleries.
 

FINAL TIPS for potential entrants


ESSENTIAL Read the FULL terms and conditions for entry on the Mall Galleries website carefully

Application process
  • Don't leave registration and uploading your image to the last minute.
  • Measure your work precisely
  • Make sure the framed size does not render the work ineligible.
Pricing
  • Inexperienced artists - who are ignorant of market prices - very often overprice - which can make exhibiting art a very expensive hobby.
  • More affordable art is more likely to sell - particularly at times when there is a cost of living crisis. Most non-members' paintings sell for less than £1,000
  • Smaller works priced around £500 or less sell more easily (i.e. impulse buy)
  • Few non-oil paintings sell for more than £2,000 at the Mall Galleries - UNLESS you already have a VERY strong following and/or create excellent large pastels

Non UK artist (known as 'NETPs' - non-established taxable persons)

If you live outside the UK and your work is sold at the exhibition you have a LEGAL responsibility to register and account for UK VAT with H.M. Revenue & Customs at www.hmrc.gov.uk (HM Revenue & Customs Reference: Notice 700/1)
  • Make sure you read the conditions about VAT very carefully. You should address any questions you may have to the VAT Helpline on tel. no. 0300 200 3700 or Outside UK: +44 2920 501 261.
  • Please note: the registration process can take up to 4 weeks.
  • Do NOT think you can get away with skipping registration if it applies to you! This is both law and tax and this condition is NOT flexible! Your work will be stuck in Customs and not exhibited
  • If you use a picture carrier - make sure framed work can be submitted UNWRAPPED and collected, wrapped and returned to you (if unsold).

Past posts about Pastel Society Exhibitions


Below you can review previous posts about Pastel Society exhibitions - from my archives.
As you can see I've reviewed this exhibition every year since 2006!
Posted by Making A Mark on Tuesday, October 29, 2024
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