The Soho Open 2025

A new opportunity has arrived for UK-based artists with the launch of The Soho Open 2025. Presented by Soho Housing Association in partnership with Parker Harris, this inaugural open call invites submissions from artists, makers, designers, and creatives working across the UK. The competition aims to celebrate creativity in all its forms, offering a platform within London’s vibrant Soho district. With no set theme, The Soho Open 2025 encourages submissions in any 2D or 3D medium, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, moving image, print, and textile.

A selection panel featuring figures from art writing, curation, collecting, and artistic practice will choose up to 100 works for an exhibition at the Great Pulteney Street Gallery from November 5th to 23rd, 2025. Key prizes include the Leslie Hardcastle Memorial Prize of £500 cash, awarded for work relating to ‘Justice For All’, and a significant opportunity for up to three artists to win a solo exhibition at the gallery in 2026. The submission deadline is September 23, 2025, with entry fees tiered from £15 for one artwork. This open approach makes it one of the interesting best photography challenges for UK artists working across different media.

For UK artists, makers, and photographers seeking exhibition opportunities in central London, The Soho Open 2025 presents a fresh and accessible platform. Its lack of thematic constraint allows for diverse artistic expression, while the chance to secure a solo exhibition provides a substantial career development opportunity. The location in Soho, close to major galleries, adds to its appeal. This new open call offers a valuable chance for both emerging and established creatives to gain recognition and exhibit their work in a prime London setting.

The The Soho Open 2025 Prizes

The inaugural Soho Open offers significant opportunities for selected artists, including cash and exhibition awards:

• Leslie Hardcastle Memorial Prize: A cash prize of £500 will be awarded to one artist. The selection is made by Soho Housing Association and the selectors, specifically for work associated with the theme ‘Justice For All’.
• Supported Solo Exhibition: Up to three artists will be awarded a solo exhibition at the Great Pulteney Street Gallery. The provisional dates for these exhibitions are March 2nd to 23rd, 2026, running simultaneously.
• Group Exhibition Inclusion: Up to 100 works will be selected by the panel for inclusion in the main Soho Open 2025 exhibition, held at the Great Pulteney Street Gallery from November 5th to 23rd, 2025.

The Categories of The Soho Open 2025

The Soho Open 2025 does not have specific categories for submission. It operates as an open call with no set theme.

Artists are invited to submit work in any 2D or 3D medium. Accepted mediums explicitly include, but are not limited to:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Sculpture
• Mixed Media
• Photography
• Moving Image (Film/Video)
• Print
• Textile

The emphasis is on the quality, originality, and impact of the work itself, regardless of genre or specific category classification.

The Soho Open 2025 Dates and Entry Fees

Here are the key dates participants should be aware of for The Soho Open 2025:

Entry fees:

• 1 Artwork: £15
• 2 Artworks: £25
• 3 Artworks: £33

How to Enter:

Artists wishing to enter The Soho Open 2025 must complete an online application form. Submissions must be digital (JPEG or PNG format, under 5MB). Artists can submit up to 3 works, and may include up to 2 supporting images for each work (e.g., for details or different views).

About the Jury

Submissions for The Soho Open 2025 will be reviewed by a selection panel composed of individuals with diverse expertise in the art world. The panel members are:

• Paul Carey-Kent: Freelance art writer (Art Monthly, FAD Magazine, etc.), curator, and Visual Fine Arts Editor of Seisma Magazine.
• Frances Richardson: Artist with numerous exhibitions and awards (including Mark Tanner Sculpture Award), whose work is held in museum collections like the V&A and British Museum.
• Mervyn Metcalf: Investment banker, Trustee of The Discerning Eye, The Holburne Museum, and BBC Media Action, and an avid collector of contemporary art, particularly portraiture.
• Monika Bobinska: Gallery Manager at Great Pulteney Street gallery and programmer of BBNR gallery; formerly ran galleries Monika Bobinska and CANAL.
• Shanti Panchal: Renowned watercolour artist, winner of major awards (John Moores Prize, BP Portrait Award), with work in numerous public collections including the British Museum and V&A.

This panel will select up to 100 works for the exhibition and will also be involved in selecting the prize winners.

Why Enter The Soho Open 2025?

For artists based in the UK, The Soho Open 2025 represents a compelling new opportunity to exhibit work in a prime central London location. Being its inaugural year adds a certain freshness and potential for discovery. The competition’s openness to all 2D and 3D media, combined with the lack of a specific theme, offers broad creative freedom and allows diverse practices – from traditional painting and sculpture to photography and moving image – to be considered side-by-side.

The prize structure is noteworthy, particularly the chance for up to three artists to secure a solo exhibition at the Great Pulteney Street Gallery. This offers significantly more depth and exposure than typical group show inclusion. The £500 Leslie Hardcastle Memorial Prize provides a direct cash incentive. Furthermore, having work reviewed by a distinguished panel that includes respected writers, curators, collectors, gallery professionals, and artists adds considerable value and credibility. Competing here places artists among the contenders in top photography competitions and broader art calls within the UK.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the The Soho Open 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.

Rules

• Eligibility: Open to artists based in the UK, aged 18 or over (as of Jan 1, 2025). Both amateur and professional artists, designers, and makers are welcome. Third-party submissions (galleries, agents) are allowed with artist permission.
• Medium: Any 2 or 3 dimensional medium is admissible. AI-generated works are explicitly not admissible.
• Work Requirements: Up to 3 works may be submitted. Work must be original. Copies are inadmissible. Must not breach copyright or contain unsafe/hazardous materials or potentially hateful content.
• Size/Weight Limits: Framed 2D works maximum 180 x 140 cm. 3D works maximum 50 x 50 x 100 cm. Maximum weight 18kg.
• Display Requirements: 3D works must provide their own display method (plinth/shelf). Moving image works maximum 10 minutes; artist must provide PAT-tested display equipment.
• Sale Requirement: Works selected for exhibition must be for sale. A dedicated sales site will be available from Nov 1, 2025, to Jan 1, 2026.
• Commission: A commission of 40% + VAT will be levied on all works sold. Artist’s sale price must include this commission.
• Selection & Delivery: Judges’ decisions are final. Artists are responsible for the cost, insurance, delivery, and collection of selected works according to the specified dates and times. Works must be delivered unwrapped with labels attached.

Copyright and Image Usage

• Copyright Ownership: Copyright of all works remains the property of the artist.
• Promotional Usage Grant: By entering, artists allow the work to be photographed and reproduced by the organiser (Soho Housing Association / Parker Harris) for purposes of promoting the exhibition. This includes use in catalogues, press, publicity, social media, and websites globally.
• Third-Party Copyright: Entrants confirm they hold all IP rights and have permission for any third-party copyrighted material within their work.
• Enquiries: Copyright enquiries received by the organisers will be referred to the artist.
• Data Protection: Personal data will be held securely according to the Data Protection Act 2018 and used only for administering the competition.

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For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.