Organizer Information
Deptford X is one of London’s longest-running independent contemporary visual arts festivals and charitable organizations, operating out of the heart of South East London. Founded to celebrate the vibrant, localized creative communities of Deptford and the wider Borough of Lewisham, the platform champions public art activations, artist-run spaces, and neighborhood-based cultural projects. By platforming both self-taught practitioners and formally trained contemporary artists, Deptford X acts as a vital creative catalyst that makes experimental new art deeply accessible to diverse local audiences.
Title & Description
Deptford X Weekender 2026: Visual Arts Open Call
Deptford X has officially launched its local open call for the second edition of the Weekender, a dynamic programmatic showcase celebrating the rich diversity of new visual art made throughout the borough. The 2026 framework explicitly seeks creative submissions responding to the theme of the social. Artists are encouraged to interpret this prompt broadly, ranging from intimate depictions of interactions within their personal circles of friends, families, and immediate neighborhoods, to wider entries leaning toward urgent social commentary or collaborative, socially engaged studio practices. Selected projects will be mounted across a network of vibrant community partner venues in Deptford, accompanied by an interactive, public-facing neighborhood events program.
Categories
The review board welcomes entries across All Visual Arts Formats. Eligible media include:
- Painting,
- Drawing,
- Sculpture,
- Printmaking,
- Photography,
- Digital media,
- Textile,
- Mixed-media,
- Spatial installations.
(Note: Because partner locations are non-traditional spaces, physical space limits apply).
Eligibility
- Geographic Constraint: Open exclusively to visual artists who live, work, or maintain strong, verifiable connections with the London Borough of Lewisham.
- Educational Background: Open to all practitioners, fully embracing both self-taught creators and those with formal art school training.
- Artwork Timeline: Submissions must consist of existing pieces completed within the past 3 years.
- Submission Quantity: Artists can submit a maximum of 10 existing works for curatorial consideration.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Financial Honorarium: Selected artists will receive a flat exhibition fee of £250.
- Fully Funded Transportation: Deptford X will entirely handle and fund the physical transport logistics of the selected artworks to and from a single designated South East London location.
- Public Presentation Platform: Selected artists will be invited to exhibit between 2 and 3 pieces of work within a curated public program running October 3–4, 2026.
- Access Infrastructure: Dedicated access support is available throughout the planning, installation, and presentation phases to assist creators with specific accessibility needs.
Application Fee
This open call is 100% free of charge. (artists can submit up to 10 existing works for selection)
How to Apply?
All artist applications, image documentation, and conceptual data details must be uploaded through the authorized Google Forms registry.
- Application Link: Deptford X Weekender Official Application Form
Key Dates
- Open Call Submission Deadline: August 9, 2026, at Midnight (Strict)
- Official Outcome Notification: August 17, 2026 (Via email)
- Exhibits & Layout Agreements Finalized: August 20, 2026
- Festive Exhibition Launch Night: Friday, October 2, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Venue TBA)
- Public Exhibition Running Window: Saturday, October 3 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
Location
The intake registration and initial curatorial filtration loops take place online. The physical display layouts, public events, and structural showcases deploy live within the United Kingdom at:
- Multiple Partner Venues & Independent Spaces (To be announced)
- Deptford, Borough of Lewisham, London, UK
Additional Details
Because the selected Weekender venues are authentic, local partner spaces rather than traditional, stark "white cube" galleries, the final layout, hanging, and spatial placements will be handled through collaborative negotiation between the technical staff and the artists. This process ensures all works are presented to a high professional standard while remaining completely safe for un-monitored public viewing.