Organizer Information
The Hunt Museum is one of Ireland’s leading cultural institutions, located in the historic Customs House in Limerick City. The museum is renowned for its extensive collection of fine art, decorative arts, antiquities, and contemporary cultural programming. Alongside preserving historical collections, the museum actively supports living artists through exhibitions, educational initiatives, commissions, and open-call opportunities. The Hunt Open Submission Exhibition was established to strengthen connections between contemporary artistic practice and the museum’s historic collections while providing professional exhibition opportunities for both Irish and international artists. Following the success of its inaugural edition, the museum has launched the second annual Open Submission Exhibition, creating a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their work in a prestigious museum setting.
Title & Description
Hunt Museum Open Submission Exhibition 2026
The Hunt Museum invites submissions for the Second Annual Hunt Open Submission Exhibition 2026, a juried exhibition celebrating contemporary visual art from Ireland and around the world. The exhibition aims to highlight diverse artistic voices and foster dialogue between contemporary creative practices and the museum’s historic collections.
Artists are invited to submit works in painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and mixed media. Selected works will be exhibited both within the museum gallery space and through associated online exhibition platforms, providing significant public visibility and engagement opportunities.
The exhibition will open with a private view on 5 December 2026 and will remain accessible to the public from 6 December 2026 until 21 February 2027. A panel of invited artists will serve as selectors, reviewing submissions solely on artistic merit. The exhibition also includes four special awards recognizing outstanding artistic achievement and contributions to the museum community.
The initiative is designed to support professional artists while offering audiences access to a wide range of contemporary artistic practices. Through this open-call format, the museum seeks to create an inclusive platform where emerging and established artists can present recent work within a respected institutional context.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Painting
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Drawing
- Mixed Media
Works outside these categories are generally not accepted.
Eligibility
Applications are open to:
- Irish artists
- International artists
- Emerging artists
- Mid-career artists
- Established professional artists
Eligibility requirements include:
- Artwork must have been created within the last five years.
- Submitted work must be original and wholly the artist’s own creation.
- Reproductions of existing artworks are not eligible.
- Work should not have been previously exhibited in Limerick, except as part of graduate exhibitions.
- Artists outside the European Union may apply, but are responsible for customs procedures, taxes, duties, and transportation logistics.
There are no stated age restrictions.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Exhibition at the Hunt Museum from December 2026 to February 2027.
- Inclusion in a major contemporary open submission exhibition.
- Presentation within a respected museum environment.
- Visibility to museum visitors, collectors, curators, and arts professionals.
- Online exhibition exposure.
- Eligibility for four special exhibition awards recognizing artistic excellence.
- Sales opportunities through the exhibition.
Additional benefits include professional exposure through the museum’s promotional campaigns, website, social media platforms, publications, and public engagement activities.
Application Fee
- First artwork: €15
- Additional artwork: €15 per artwork
- Maximum submissions: 3 artworks
- All fees are non-refundable
Maximum total entry cost for three artworks: €45
Application Requirements
- Personal information
- Artist details
- Artwork information
- Images of submitted artworks
- Artwork dimensions and medium
- Sale price information
- VAT number (if applicable)
- Online application form submission
For selected artists:
- Printed application details must accompany delivered artwork.
- Works must be professionally presented and exhibition-ready.
- Wall-mounted works must include proper hanging mechanisms.
- All artworks must be clearly labelled.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 7 September 2026
- Selection Deadline: 6 October 2026
- Artist Notification: 17 October 2026
- Private View: 5 December 2026
- Public Opening: 6 December 2026
- Exhibition Closes: 21 February 2027
Location
Limerick, Ireland
Additional Details
- A selection panel composed of five to eight invited artists will review submissions.
- Selection decisions are final and no feedback will be provided.
- All selected works are expected to be available for sale unless otherwise agreed in advance.
- The museum retains a 25% commission on sales.
- Artists should factor framing and commission costs into their pricing.
- Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting their works.
- Artists are strongly encouraged to insure their artwork during transportation and exhibition.
- International applicants must ensure compliance with customs regulations and cover any associated duties or taxes.
- Artwork images may be used by the museum for promotional and publicity purposes, including catalogues, websites, press materials, social media, and public engagement campaigns.
- Uncollected works incur a charge of €10 per day and may be disposed of after one week if not retrieved.
- Packaging materials cannot be stored by the museum and must be removed after artwork delivery.