SCAF Emerging Artist Award 2027: Yorkshire Artists Apply by 31 October
The Scott Creative Arts Foundation invites artists living in Yorkshire, England, to enter the SCAF Emerging Artist Award 2027. The theme for this edition is Tension, and the first-stage online application closes on 31 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Artists aged 16 or older may apply regardless of nationality or formal artistic training, as long as they live in Yorkshire at the time of entry.
What does the theme Tension mean?
The organizers draw on the history of Dean Clough Mill, once a large Victorian carpet manufacturing site, and the tension of threads, industrial labour, changing systems and the transition of the site. Artists may approach tension as a material force, an emotional or bodily experience, or a social process. Approaches can include sculpture, photography, graphics, moving image, mixed media, and many other forms.
Eligibility and limitations
Applicants must be aged 16 or older, living in the Yorkshire region when they enter, and cannot have exclusive gallery representation. There is no nationality restriction. Live performances and projected video are not accepted. Sound-based work is allowed only if audio can be accessed exclusively through headphones. Wall-based artworks must be smaller than 150 by 150 cm including the frame, while sculptural works must be smaller than 150 cm cubed.
Awards and exhibition
Ten awards are planned: £1,000 for the first-prize artist, and £175 for each of the remaining nine shortlisted award recipients. The ten final works will be shown at Dean Clough Mill. The opening and awards evening is scheduled for 1 July 2027, with exhibition dates advertised from 2 July to 5 September 2027.
Two-stage process
The first stage asks for an online proposal for an artwork, supported by images. Shortlisted artists are invited to produce the proposed original work, which must be submitted by 21 May 2027. The organizer's page gives conflicting dates in different sections for the announcement of the shortlist, so applicants should rely on their individual email notification and the latest official timetable rather than assuming one date.
How to enter
Review the full terms, assemble a clearly explained proposal engaging with Tension, and submit using the official form linked from the organizer's page before the October 31 deadline. Pay particular attention to regional residence, size limits, sound and projection restrictions, and any insurance or transport obligations specified in the terms.
Information checked October 18, 2026. Read the current official conditions before applying.