Ones to Watch 2027: Yorkshire Artists and Digital Creators Apply by 25 October
Sunny Bank Mills is inviting applications for Ones to Watch 2027, its annual exhibition for emerging creatives. Artists aged 16 and over who were born in Yorkshire or are currently based in Yorkshire may apply, including people returning to an artistic practice after a career break. The application is free, with a closing date of midnight on Sunday 25 October 2026. The exhibition takes place at Sunny Bank Mills Gallery in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, from 9 January to 28 March 2027.
An exhibition that welcomes film, sound, performance and digital work
The call includes a broad range of media: painting, sculpture, photography, film, sound, text, performance, furniture, glass, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork and many other forms. A moving-image artist or creative technologist is eligible in principle, but must think through the realities of gallery presentation. The organizer has a limited supply of screens, speakers, media players and other technical equipment and may have to limit the number of multimedia works accepted. Applicants should state clearly what equipment they can provide and how visitors will encounter the work.
Who is eligible?
Two links to Yorkshire are accepted: being Yorkshire-born or being based in the region at the time of application. Candidates should be at an early stage of their exhibition career, have very limited exhibiting experience, or be returning after a break. It is not restricted to current university students, despite the exhibition's long history of supporting student artists. The minimum age is 16; applicants under 18 must have a parent or guardian register on CuratorSpace on their behalf. This is not an unrestricted worldwide open call.
What will it cost, and will artists be paid?
There is no entry fee and no fee to exhibit. However, exhibiting artists are not paid a participation fee. The practical costs of preparing and delivering work remain important, especially for installation-based and digital practices. The gallery cannot contribute to printing costs for photographs or digital work. Artists working with projection, screens or amplified sound must also plan what equipment they will supply and whether additional access or installation arrangements are necessary.
Exhibition dates, delivery and awards
The opening event is scheduled for the evening of Friday 8 January 2027, and the public exhibition runs from 9 January through 28 March. Accepted works must reach the gallery before 5 January 2027. Artists do not have to attend in person, although the gallery encourages participation in the opening and promotion. A Visitor's Choice Award will offer a three-month residency in the Sunny Bank Mills artist studios; other awards and sponsored recognition are also anticipated, but no cash amounts are guaranteed in the call.
How selection works
Applications are reviewed by the Sunny Bank Mills arts team and an external panel. The curators want a balanced presentation of different creative practices and approaches rather than a show dominated by one medium. Clear images, dimensions, titles and descriptions help reviewers judge the work. If a supporting video or portfolio is password-protected, make sure the password and link work. A short explanation of the creative process, the final display format and the resources needed is especially useful for interactive or time-based projects.
Application: use CuratorSpace
Applications are made through the opportunity listing on CuratorSpace, where prospective entrants need a free account. Selected artists are contacted through that platform and receive subsequent details on delivery, gallery conditions and any commission on sales. The organizer also provides an option to ask accessibility or technical questions through the listing's contact-curator feature. Submit before the October 25 closing date rather than relying on a last-minute upload.
Information reviewed 18 October 2026. Refer to the complete current listing and any individual acceptance documents for binding exhibition conditions.