Artist: Lucy Threlfall
Yardley Arts Summer Open 2026
An exhibition of contemporary fine art, painting and sculpture
Key Exhibition Details
Submissions closed - Selection in progress
Selection Dates
Notification to artists: 5 June
Artwork Delivery: 21–22 June between 2pm and 6pm
Collection of unsold work: 20, 21 & 25 July between 2pm and 6pm
Exhibition Details
Awards reception & Private view: 25 June 2026, 6 – 8pm
Exhibition dates: 25 June – 19 July 2026
Opening hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Prizes:
The Woodmansterne Fine Art Prize – £1,000
The Stefanie Price Sculpture Prize – £1,000
People’s Choice Awards – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (chosen by visitors)
Selection panel
David Mach RA – Renowned Scottish sculptor, collagist and installation artist. Royal Academician since 1998. Turner Prize nominee (1988) and former Professor of Sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools.
Anthony Spira – Director of MK Gallery since 2009. Former curator at Whitechapel Gallery, London and the Jeu de Paume, Paris.
Amanda Lowther & Louise Newton – Directors of The British Art Portfolio, (est. 2011). Specialists in contemporary & nineteenth-century British art and sculpture, based in Northamptonshire.
More about the exhibition
The Yardley Arts Summer Open 2026 is a major new open-call exhibition celebrating the very best of contemporary art. Running from 25 June to 19 July 2026, this exhibition invites artists from across the UK to submit both 2D and 3D works for selection by a panel of respected art professionals.
Now in its ninth year, Yardley Arts has become a vibrant hub in Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire – a place where community, culture and artistic excellence meet. From our converted Victorian building, we continue to champion artists, present ambition exhibitions and welcome thousands of visitors who share a passion for art in all its forms.
As part of the programme, the exhibition will also feature in the popular Yardley Hastings Open Gardens event on Sunday 28th June 2026, with artists working live in participating gardens – creating a unique and inspiring dialogue between art, landscape and community.
Expected audiences: over 2,500 visitors in person and more than 10,000 online.
Exhibition Contact: exhibitions@yardleyarts.org
Artist Support:
Direct support to artists during the entry stage.
Lori Bentley: lori@oess.uk
View some of our previous exhibitions:
Northants & Rutland Open Studios September 2025
Open Gardens / Capturing Nature 2024
Or select from the drop down Exhibitions Archive list in our menu to explore more.
