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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
Kairós: Between Choice and Fate
Kairós, derived from ancient Greek, represents the “critical moment” or the “rupture in time” where destiny shifts. An open call for a London exhibition at Batsford Gallery.
Who can apply: Open to all disciplines. Artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video art, new media, and other visual forms are invited to submit works reflecting on fate, choice, time, and transformation.
What you get: Exhibition opportunity and media coverage. Only selected artists will pay a participation fee, covering: gallery rental, installation, photography, promotion, design, staffing, and production costs(￡18).
Open Frame: Camden Short Film Fund
Production company Born By A River is accepting submissions from early-career filmmakers seeking to produce a bold, author-driven short fiction project with social and cultural impact, attentive to topics related to diasporas, disabilities, gender and sexualities. With funding and resource support from industry project partners and Camden Council, Open Frame is a tailored programme designed to support Black British filmmakers based in the London Borough of Camden at the intersection of disability/neurodivergence and/or from an underrepresented gender/sexuality.
Who can apply: Individual writer and director pairings or a sole writer-director - with or without a producer attached - where at least one of these core team members is Black British and at the intersection of disability/neurodivergence and/or from an underrepresented gender/sexuality. One of the team must have a connection to the London Borough of Camden, or the proposal must be relevant to the area.
What you get: Budget around £15k to create the film, plus additional in-kind support including bespoke camera and lens hire from Focus Canning, in-kind DCP delivery by Cinebox, meeting/workshop space from Old Diorama Arts Centre. The selected filmmaker(s) will benefit from a tailored programme that embeds inclusive approaches to filmmaking in the areas of recruitment and access, working culture, and wellbeing in production. It is expected that these will lead to an improved working environment for all involved, with initiatives ranging from an adaptable working day, wellbeing facilitation, the standardised use of access riders, a supported period of development, and a programmed cast and crew pre-shoot workshop.
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.
Transcendence - Sales and Exhibitions in London
An open call exploring passion, transformation, and the mystery of artistic creation. Transcendence invites artists to exhibit works expressing emotion, evolution, and inner worlds through any medium at Boomer Gallery, London.
Who can apply:
Artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, installation, print, digital, AI-assisted, textile, or written forms. Open internationally to emerging and established artists.
What you get:
Selected artists exhibit in London’s Tower Bridge district. Includes posters, e-catalog, photographer, designer, framing/printing, drinks reception, and no gallery commission on direct sales. £189 participation fee applies.
Deadline 05 December 2025
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
Stomping Ground 2026 Commission Callout
Stomping Ground is a commissioning group comprised of Citymoves, Creative Crawley, FABRIC, FESTIVAL.ORG, Pagrav Dance Company, Strike A Light, The Place and Tramway. We are looking to commission a short dance solo or duet tourable to primary schools, festivals and other public spaces around the country.
Eligibility: UK-based artists, be applying for a work with a strong and distinctive movement element - we welcome applications from dance artists as well as artists from other disciplines who use movement in their practice, have previous experience of making and touring high quality work in different contexts, not apply with a work that has been submitted to Stomping Ground before unless it’s had further development since applying and not currently be in education (unless at PhD level)
What you get: The selected piece will receive a £20,000 commission, up to 2 weeks of studio space in kind at The Place, guidance on producing outdoor work for children, and performance opportunities with the commissioning partners. The piece will be co-produced by The Place as part of The Playground 2026, and go on a 5-week tour around schools and family festivals. The Stomping Ground partners may offer presentation opportunities which will be negotiated with the commissioned artists, and which will be subject to additional touring fees. Artists are not expected to raise additional match funding.
Deadline 29 November 2025
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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