Organizer Information
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is one of the United Kingdom’s leading contemporary art institutions, internationally recognized for its ambitious exhibitions, artist development initiatives, and public engagement programmes. Located in Gateshead in the North East of England, Baltic operates as a non-collecting contemporary art center dedicated to supporting artists across disciplines while making contemporary culture accessible to broad audiences.
Since opening in 2002, Baltic has built a reputation for championing emerging and underrepresented artists through exhibitions, commissions, educational programming, residencies, and community-driven projects. The institution regularly collaborates with artists, curators, local communities, and international partners to create opportunities for experimentation and public visibility.
The Baltic Open Submission programme reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and inclusion within contemporary art. Designed specifically for artists and creatives based in the North East of England, the initiative encourages participation from individuals who may not have previously exhibited in formal art spaces. The programme welcomes both professionally trained artists and self-taught practitioners, emphasizing artistic diversity, community representation, and creative experimentation across all media.
Now entering its third edition, Baltic Open Submission 2026 continues to provide an important platform for regional artists, makers, hobbyists, and collectives to present their work within one of the UK’s most respected contemporary art venues.
Title & Description
Baltic Open Submission 2026
Baltic Open Submission 2026 is an open-call exhibition opportunity for artists, makers, self-taught creatives, and hobbyists based in the North East of England. Organized by Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the programme aims to showcase a wide range of contemporary creative practices including painting, sculpture, photography, video, textile works, film, drawing, installation, and other experimental or interdisciplinary media.
The initiative is designed to support artists whose work may not previously have been publicly exhibited, making it particularly accessible for emerging practitioners, independent creatives, and community-based artists. No formal training, qualifications, or previous exhibition history is required to apply.
There is no specific curatorial theme for the 2026 edition, allowing applicants complete freedom in subject matter, artistic approach, and medium. Artists are invited to submit one artwork for consideration by the selection panel. Selected works will be included in a major group exhibition presented at Baltic from September 2026 through May 2027.
In addition to exhibition inclusion, two artists from the selected participants will receive special commission opportunities. One commissioned work will be created for Baltic’s Lightbox space, while another artist will create a flag commission. Artists selected for these commissions will be contacted separately after the selection process.
The open submission welcomes a broad range of artistic disciplines and formats, including wall-based works, sculpture, photography, moving image, tapestry, drawing, and audiovisual documentation of live performance. Video and moving image works will be presented as part of a looped screening programme within the exhibition.
Baltic Open Submission 2026 places strong emphasis on accessibility, inclusivity, and regional representation while creating opportunities for local artists to gain visibility within a major contemporary art institution.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Video Art
- Film
- Drawing
- Installation Art
- Textile Art
- Performance Documentation
- Audiovisual Art
- Multimedia Art
- Contemporary Art
- Mixed Media
- Experimental Art
- Community Art Practices
- Interdisciplinary Art
Eligibility
- Open to artists, makers, hobbyists, self-taught creatives, and collectives.
- Applicants must be 18 years or older.
- Only artists based in the North East of England are eligible.
- Eligible postcode areas include:
- NE
- DL
- DH
- SR
- TS
- TD15
- No formal arts education is required.
- Previous exhibition experience is not necessary.
- Emerging and established artists are both welcome to apply.
- All artistic media are eligible for submission.
This is a regional open call for artists based in the North East of England.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Inclusion in a major public exhibition at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
- Professional visibility within a leading UK contemporary art institution
- Opportunity to exhibit work publicly from September 2026 to May 2027
- Curatorial and technical installation support from Baltic staff and technicians
- Exposure to audiences, media, and contemporary art professionals
- Eligibility for two special artist commissions:
- Lightbox Commission
- Flag Commission
- Participation in exhibition preview events and public programming
- Networking opportunities with artists and cultural professionals
Artists selected for the additional commissions will be contacted separately.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Registration through Submittable
- Up to 6 images of the submitted artwork
- A short artwork description (maximum 100 words) explaining:
- The concept of the work
- Inspiration
- Artistic process
Postal submissions require:
- Maximum 2 sheets of A4 paper
- Contact details:
- Name
- Postal address
- Phone number (if available)
- A short artist/work statement (maximum 100 words)
- Up to 3 images of the submitted artwork
- Optional audio or video recording
Applicants should not send original artworks during the selection stage.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
- Postal Submission Deadline: 16 June 2026
- Successful Applicants Notified: 6 August 2026
- Artists Announced Publicly: 20 August 2026
- Artwork Delivery Period: 24–30 August 2026
- Exhibition Preview Party: 18 September 2026
- Exhibition Dates: 19 September 2026 – May 2027
Location
Gateshead, United Kingdom
Additional Details
Artists may submit only one artwork for consideration. Submitted works must be available for the exhibition period from August 2026 through May 2027.
Baltic accepts submissions across all media but has specific technical and logistical requirements regarding artwork dimensions, weight, and safety standards. Wall-based works larger than 100 × 100 cm and heavy sculptural works may be difficult to accommodate. Electrical works will undergo PAT testing upon arrival.
The institution cannot accept artworks containing:
- Food substances
- Toxic or hazardous materials
- Human or animal tissue
- Dangerous electrical devices
- Highly flammable materials
Baltic explicitly states its commitment to anti-racism and inclusion and will not accept works promoting discrimination or racism in any form.
All exhibition installation decisions, including artwork placement and display methods, will be made by Baltic’s curatorial and programme teams. Installation and handling will be managed by Baltic technicians, and artists are not required to be present during installation.
Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting selected artworks according to the exhibition schedule.