Organizer Information
OffBeat Folk Film Club is the host behind this open call. It is a
curatorial platform best known for the
OffBeat Folk Film Festival, which explores archival and contemporary folk and documentary moving image work with an expanded notion of folk culture — emphasizing the “weird, wonderful and offbeat” in visual practice. The Art Club extends OffBeat’s programme beyond film into physical exhibition formats that engage with vernacular and material-based creative practices.
The exhibition is produced in collaboration with Staffordshire St, an independent, non-profit project space in Peckham, South East London that supports emerging and under-represented artists through exhibitions, collaborative projects, talks, screenings, workshops, and affordable studio space.
Title & Description
OffBeat Art Club — Group Exhibition & Open Call
OffBeat Art Club is a curated group exhibition and open call celebrating artwork that might not usually find space in traditional shows. The focus is on creative practices that embrace craft, materiality, vernacular visual culture, and object-based work situated slightly “off-centre” in terms of aesthetic and context. Works may include prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media, archival and film stills, small sculptural objects, and other designs that connect to ritual, place, labour, handmade culture, or folk uses — not necessarily limited to British themes or artists. The exhibition runs alongside London
Craft Week as part of the wider OffBeat Folk Film Festival.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Craft & Material Practice
- Painting
- Print & Drawing
- Mixed Media
- Object-based Sculpture
- Archival/Film Still Image Work
- Ephemera and Folk-inspired Visual Practices
Eligibility
- Internationally open — artists do not need to be British.
- Open to makers and artists working in object-based and static works in the categories listed.
- No age limits or specific demographic requirements stated.
- Multiple works accepted (up to three per applicant).
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists will receive:
- Inclusion in a curated group exhibition at Staffordshire St in Peckham, London.
- Exhibition aligned with London Craft Week for increased visibility.
- Professional exhibition documentation and promotion via OffBeat and Staffordshire St channels.
- Ability to sell artwork during the exhibition (artists retain 50% of the sale price).
- Opportunity to take part in a London Craft Week market weekend stall to sell smaller pieces and ephemera directly to the public.
Application Fee
- £8 for one work
- £15 for two works
- £20 for three works
(If the fee presents a barrier, applicants are invited to get in touch to discuss support.)
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to provide:
- Basic contact details
- Short description of artistic practice or the work being submitted
- Images of each artwork submitted
- Practical details, such as materials, dimensions, and price (for sale)
- Optional but recommended: a brief statement describing the connection to the exhibition’s themes
(Exact field descriptions and form are on the submission platform.)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 February 2026
- Notification to Artists: April 2026 (artists notified if selected)
- Exhibition Dates: 8 May — 17 May 2026
- London Craft Week Market Weekend: 16 — 17 May 2026
Location
Staffordshire St, Peckham, London,
United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Selected works must be delivered ready for display:
- 2D works must be framed and ready to hang.
- 3D works should include installation instructions and fixings.
- Artists retain 50% of the sale proceeds for works sold during the exhibition.
- The application process uses straightforward language — polished academic statements are not required.
