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QE Artists-in-Residence
A funded four-month residency opportunity for emerging and mid-career artists working across all disciplines in London. We invite you to apply and encourage you to share this opportunity with fellow artists in your community.
Who can apply: We're looking for two visual artists working with a distinct and compelling voice who demonstrates clear mastery of their chosen media. Our selection committee is particularly interested in providing opportunity and a platform to underrepresented artists in the early or middle stages of their careers.
What you get: The residency offers £3,000 per month over four months (£12,000 total), plus an allowance of up to £1,000 for art materials. At the conclusion of the residency, we'll mount an exhibition of the work created, and at least one piece will be incorporated into our permanent collection.
Jackson’s Art Prize 2026
Jackson’s Art Prize, now in its eleventh year, invites artists working in all two-dimensional techniques to enter their work and be in with the chance of winning £6,000 + £2,000 in art materials.
There are 31 awards to be won this year: First Prize, six Guest Judges Choice Awards, five Jackson’s Choice Awards, the Student, Amateur, and People’s Choice Awards, plus eight Material Awards and Runners Up supported with prizes sponsored by notable brands. Over ten seasons, the established prize has awarded more than £98,000 in prize money and shortlisted 554 works of art, supporting artists through the competition and beyond with representation on Jackson’s online art gallery.
This year’s exciting Guest Judges are Deborah Smith, Caroline Walker, Faye Wei Wei, Brogan Bertie, Max Naylor, and Eleanor Johnson.
Eligibility:
The competition is open internationally, to artists working in all two-dimensional techniques including (but not limited to) painting, drawing, and printmaking, in any subject matter.
What you get:
£6,000 + £2,000 in art materials. Shortlisted artists will be invited to exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair on Hampstead Heath, and a group show at Bankside Gallery in central London.
Entry fee:
£5 early bird entry | 12 November – 17 December
£6.50 standard entry | 18 December – 11 February
Deadline 11 February 2026
Springfield Village Public Seating Open Call
The Public Seating Open Call invites architects, designers, and creative practitioners to propose two bespoke street-furniture pieces for Springfield Village in Tooting Bec. Benches will be installed on hard-standing areas and must be practical, durable, distinctive, and accessible. Designs should support St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s mission by promoting mental wellbeing and reducing stigma. Selected consultant(s) will engage local stakeholders, especially disability groups, to ensure accessibility and may provide capacity-building sessions.
Who can apply:
Be based in the UK (a Wandsworth connection is desirable).
Have experience or interest in participatory or socially engaged practice.
Be able to design and manage fabrication and installation.
Have the right to work in the UK.
Hold Public Liability Insurance (min £10 million).
Be available for the full delivery timeline (2025–2027)."
What you get:
Winners will be paid their artist fee, which will come out of the overall project budget of £40,000.
Springfield Village Public Art Open Call
The open call invites artists to propose 3–6 permanent public artworks for Springfield Village, a new mixed-use neighbourhood in Tooting Bec, London Borough of Wandsworth, London, UK.
The goal is to create site-specific, permanent public art that enhances the identity of the area and connects to mental health and wellbeing themes, celebrating the history of the site and fostering inclusion and community engagement.
Who can apply:
Be based in the UK (ties to Wandsworth are desirable).
Have experience or strong interest in participatory or socially engaged practice.
Have experience in designing and delivering permanent public art.
Be eligible to work in the UK.
What you get: Artist fee costs are covered by the overall project budget of £95,000
Deadline 11 January 2026
OmVed Gardens: Artist of the Month
The Artist of the Month initiative at OmVed Gardens celebrates and spotlights creativity in all its forms, with a focus on artists and creators whose work explores our connection with nature. Each month, we will showcase the practice of a selected artist whose work resonates with our work with ecology, food, community, and sustainability.
Who can apply: Whether you paint, sculpt, photograph, write, or perform, if your art explores how we’re intertwined with nature, we want to hear from you!
What you get:
Story Feature: A dedicated profile of the artist on our website, newsletter, and social media channels, sharing their creative journey, inspiration, and work.
Public Engagement: An opportunity to present their practice to our community by either:
Displaying and selling artwork during an Open Day*
Hosting a workshop to share skills and engage visitors**
Offering a performance as part of a Friday Late (usually music related)**
* Artists will keep all proceeds from any sales
** Artists be paid a facilitator fee for their
contribution
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Call 2026 | Now Open!
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) invites artists worldwide, aged 18 and over, to submit artwork for the RP Annual Exhibition 2026 at Mall Galleries.
Selected artists will have their work exhibited at Mall Galleries, London, with potential for sales and commissions.
Eligibility:
Artists may enter a maximum of four artworks each.
Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.
All works must be an original creation by the artist
Acceptable media: Paintings, drawings and original prints - including digital/iPad prints. Sculpture and photography are not admissible.
What you get:
There are £35,000 worth of incredible prizes and awards on offer, including The William Lock Portrait Prize of £20,000 for the most timeless portrait with a real feeling for paint and its aesthetic potential.
Public Art Commission Open Call: National Memorial to Journalists on the Frontline
On The Record has launched a national design competition with the goal of creating the UK’s first permanent memorial dedicated to British and UK-based journalists who have lost their lives while reporting from conflict zones.
Eligibility: All UK-based artists and sculptors with experience in nationally and internationally important public commissions.
What you get: The total budget is £550,000 inclusive of artist design fee.
Plicnik Crit Sessions 2026
Plicnik Space Initiative is hosting weekly critique sessions from 17 January to 21 February 2026. A small group of applicants will be invited to present their work and deliver critique once a week in a professional environment. These sessions are designed to support growth and critical dialogue among practicing artists that are not currently studying and are actively engaged in their careers. This platform is aimed at artists seeking to refine their work and build connections with peers in a professional context.
Eligibility: Emerging and early mid-career artists who are not currently studying and are able to attend in-person sessions in London, UK. We are particularly interested in artists who are not painters and have completed at least a BA and preferably an MA too.
What you get: Artists will take part in 6 mentoring/feedback sessions with Plicnik Space Initiative founders Amélie Mckee and Melle Nieling.
The Gwen May Recent Graduate Award
The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) is offering a student membership of two years plus £1000 from the Gwen May Trust to two recent printmaking graduates. Membership to the society includes the opportunity to participate in RE exhibitions for two years both nationally and internationally. Any printmaking graduate who has graduated in 2025 can apply, there will be two winners.
Eligibility: Graduates of 2025.
What You Get: £1,000 and 2 years student membership to the RE including exhibition opportunities.
Deadline 09 January 2026
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026
Entries are now open for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award. The annual painting competition returns to the National Portrait Gallery for 2026, celebrating the best in contemporary portraiture. One of the most important platforms for portrait painters today, the competition showcases the variety of approaches to portraiture and encourages artists to focus upon, and develop, the theme of portraiture in their work.
Who can apply:
The competition is open to all artists, age 18 or over, from around the world.
What you get:
Selected artists will be exhibited in the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, from 25 June – 7 October 2026.
Selected artists will be considered for the following prizes:
First Prize: £35,000
Second Prize: £12,000
Third Prize: £10,000
All artists chosen to exhibit in 2026 and 2027’s Portrait Award exhibitions will be considered for the bi-annual Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Artist Commission (value £14,000), to be announced in 2027.
All selected artists aged between 18 and 30 will automatically be considered for the Young Artist Award (value £9,000).
Entry fee: £40 (Artists in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit can enter this year’s competition for free, and a 50% discount is in place for artists who receive Disability Benefits, who are students, or who are between the ages of 18 and 25.)
Deadline 06 January 2026
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Call 2026 | Now Open!
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) invites artists to submit artwork for the RI Annual Exhibition 2026 at Mall Galleries.
Eligibility:
Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world.
Artists may enter a maximum of six artworks each.
Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.
All works must be an original creation by the artist
Acceptable media: Watercolour or water-soluble mediums including watercolour, watercolour pencil, acrylic, ink or gouache.
What you get:
Selected artists will have their work exhibited at Mall Galleries, London, with potential for sales and commissions. There are £10,000 worth of incredible prizes and awards on offer, including The Winsor & Newton Award of £3,000!
Deadline 23 January 2026
Repair, Reuse, Recycle business grants
This fund is for businesses, social enterprises or CICs who want to:
cut down on waste
grow food locally
use less packaging or plastics
help people fix or reuse things
create solutions to make better use of waste
How much money can you apply for?
There are up to nine grants of £3,000 each.
There is also wrap around support provided, valued at £350 for each grantee. This includes business advice on measuring and communicating your impact.
Who can apply?
The Repair, Reuse, Recycle grants are open to:
sole traders, including designers and creatives
small or medium businesses (SMEs)
social enterprises, including CICs
What do you need to apply?
a clear plan for your project
a budget outline, showing how you will spend the money
proof that your organisation is based in Lewisham
a bank account (not a personal one)
documents like insurance and safety policies
If your company is new and does not have a bank account, you can use a service like Accountable to manage the money.
When can you apply? for the Repair, Reuse, Recycle Fund:
applications open: Monday 20 October 2025
applications deadline: 8 December 2025
successful grant recipients announced: 29 December 2025
grant agreements signed: by January 2026
funding awarded: by February 2026
How are projects chosen?
We look for projects that:
save energy and cut carbon
benefit a lot of people
help people who need it most
work well with other groups
have a good plan and budget
Need help or have questions?
Comment on this page, or contact climate@lewisham.gov.uk if you need any assistance.
Community Energy Fund
This fund is for local organisations (schools, community groups, charities and faith organisations) who want to run projects that:
save energy in homes or buildings
use clean energy like solar panels
cut energy use from transport
teach others how to save energy and inspire action on climate change
How much money can you apply for?
There are three funding streams for this round of the Community Energy Fund as well as a open call for Innovation and Collaboration proposals where the council will look co-develop projects :
Stream A - Planning grants valued up to £10,000 to help plan your project
Stream B - Project grants valued up to £25,000 or one-third of your total costs
Training, engagement and capacity building grants, valued up to £5,000
Who can apply?
To apply to the Community Energy Fund you must be a group or organisation based in Lewisham. Individuals cannot apply. If you have an idea, you can work with a group that is eligible.
Groups that can apply can include:
a charity
a school
a community group
a faith group
a social enterprise
a residents’ association
What do you need to apply?
a clear plan for your project
a budget outline, showing how you will spend the money
proof that your organisation is based in Lewisham
a bank account (not a personal one)
documents like insurance and safety policies
If your group is new and does not have a bank account, you can use a service like Accountable to manage the money.
When can you apply?
For the Community Energy Fund, there are two rounds of applications:
Phase 1:
Applications open: Monday 6 October 2025
Applications deadline: 8 December 2025
Outcome of grant recipients: January 2026
Projects delivered: as outlined in grant agreement
Phase 2 (only if money is still available)
Opens: 12 January 2026
Deadline: 16 February 2026
Outcome: March 2026
Projects delivered: As outlined in grant agreement
How are projects chosen?
We look for projects that:
benefit lots of people
save energy and cut carbon
help people who need it most
work well with other groups
have a good plan and budget
Need help or have questions?
Comment on this page, or contact climate@lewisham.gov.uk if you need any assistance.
The Royal Society of British Artists Open Call 2026 is Now Open!
The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) invites artists worldwide, aged 18 and over, to submit artwork for the RBA Annual Exhibition 2026 at Mall Galleries.
Eligibility:
Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world.
Artists may enter a maximum of six artworks each.
Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.
All works must be an original creation by the artist
Acceptable media: Painting, sculpture, drawing and original prints.
What you get:
Selected artists will have their work exhibited at Mall Galleries, London, with potential for sales and commissions. There are £20,000 worth of incredible prizes and awards on offer, including The Huaicun Zhang Award of £10,000 for a work (or works) of exceptional quality.
Deadline 09 January 2026
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