The Fronteer Open 2026: UK Visual Artists Apply by 26 October, Exhibition in Sheffield
Fronteer Gallery in Sheffield is taking entries for The Fronteer Open 2026, its annual salon-style exhibition and prize programme. Artists working across the United Kingdom can submit one original visual artwork by 26 October 2026. Application is free, but selected exhibitors must pay a £45 participation fee by 12 November. The exhibition runs from 24 November to 12 December 2026 in Orchard Square, Sheffield. Before entering, artists should look carefully at restrictions on formats, shipping and sales rather than treating this as an unrestricted online digital-art competition.
Media accepted and important exclusions
The gallery welcomes many visual techniques, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, prints and potentially static digital images presented as physical artworks. However, the organizer explicitly excludes sound and video work. Someone creating a film, an animated GIF presented as moving image or an audio installation should not enter that format. Wall-mounted pieces cannot exceed 70 × 70 cm, including any frame; free-standing sculptural works must fit within 50 cm height and 30 × 30 cm width and depth.
One finished piece per person
Each artist may submit one piece and supply up to three images of it, normally one overall view and detail images when needed. The work should already be completed at the point of entry; changing size or work after application may cause it to be rejected. A description of no more than 100 words can accompany the work in the exhibition. Clear dimensions and presentation details matter because the show will be hung densely in a salon arrangement.
Two exhibition prizes, no guaranteed cash award
A Judge's Choice Prize will be chosen by a panel that includes the gallery's directors and guest judge Nick Grindrod. A People's Choice Prize is selected through a public vote. Both prizes include the opportunity to have an exhibition at Fronteer Gallery in 2028 and one year of Artists Level CuratorSpace membership. This should not be described as a cash scholarship or as two guaranteed different winners: the organizer permits the same artist to win both prizes.
Entry fee, selling and return costs
Entry itself costs nothing. If selected, the artist pays £45 and may offer the artwork for sale; the gallery charges 10% commission on sales. Accepted works sent by post must arrive by 12 November. Artists who need pieces returned by post pay both shipping and a handling fee, and the gallery expects to begin mailed returns in January after the Christmas closure. International shipping should not be assumed to qualify because this call specifically invites artists from the UK.
Timetable and accessibility
The gallery expects to notify successful entrants by 27 October. The private view is planned for 21 November, the public exhibition for 24 November–12 December, and the prize evening for 12 December. The venue is upstairs and does not have disabled access; applicants who need accessibility information should contact the gallery in advance. Some date wording about deliveries on the organiser's listing is inconsistent, so a selected artist should follow the individual acceptance email for the practical arrangements.
Application link
Details reviewed on 18 October 2026. Read the full organizer listing and any acceptance terms, including the payment obligation, before applying.