Opportunities for Artists: A Guide to Submitting Your Work
At Mall Galleries, our open calls give artists worldwide the opportunity to submit their work for selection, and the chance to exhibit in a central London gallery, connect with thousands of visitors and join a community of artists.
Take a look at our guide to submitting, and the motivations behind participating in our open calls...
Why do people submit to open calls?
Open Calls offer artists a unique platform to showcase their work, gain exposure, and advance their careers!
- Win a solo show! Our open calls offer exciting awards, including the opportunity to win a solo exhibition.
- Cash prizes. All of our open calls offer cash prizes, which could help fund future work, art materials, or studio time.
- Reach new buyers and audiences. Open calls are a great way to get your work and practice in front of new audiences - collectors, buyers and art lovers who connect with what you do. Mall Galleries has over 60,000 visitors a year!
- Join a creative community in Central London. Applying for an open call isn't just about exhibiting - you could become part of a vibrant and exciting community of artists right in the heart of London.
How to submit to open calls
Artists submit their work for consideration through our online system, OESS. Here is a simple guide to submitting your work:
- Register or log in to our Open Exhibition Submission System (OESS) to upload your artwork.
- Upload one main image per submission in JPEG or PNG format (under 5MB), however please ensure the full artwork is in view. You may also upload up to two additional images to highlight details or different angles of the work, which can be helpful for sculptors!
- Please ensure your images are clear, well-lit and accurately represent your work. Avoid reflections, poor focus, or awkward angles. Sculptors especially should use plain backgrounds.
- Please provide the title, medium, size, year of completion, and price. Weight is also helpful for sculptures. You can choose to add a description to provide more context about your work.
- After submissions close, all entries will be reviewed by the judging panel. Please note that some open calls have multiple selection processes. Artists will be notified through the OESS if their work has been selected for the exhibition.
- Works delivered for exhibition should be unwrapped and accompanied by the relevant forms and labels, which will be available for download through the submission system.
If you need any assistance submitting your work, please feel free to reach out. We are always here to help!
Tips for submitting
Kate Towsey is the Exhibitions Coordinator at Mall Galleries, and is sharing her tips on submitting for open calls…
Here are some of Kate's tips for submitting to open calls!
- Submit well-lit, good quality photos of your work. Make sure your work is straight and in focus, and avoid shadow and reflections.
- Write a clear statement or description. Whilst not required, a description may help judges gain insight into your work and practice.
- Submit early! Submitting early gives you time to catch any problems and avoid stress.
Current Open Calls
Explore our opportunities for artists, including open exhibitions, prizes and awards, bursaries, residencies and scholarships.