Established the same year as the gallery in 1984, our Annual Open has been a rare opportunity for all artists at any stage of their career to submit work without a selection criteria, making it London's longest running open and democratic exhibition.
Each year the salon-style exhibition brings together over 400 works in drawing, painting, photography, print, sculpture and film to champion the diversity of artistic practice in the UK today. From its inception, the ethos of the Annual Open has always been about accessible participation and creating opportunities for artists, so there is no judging panel for entering. Instead, two alumni artists from Southwark Park Galleries’ programme select a winner to receive a prize, announced at the close of the exhibition.
There is a modest fee to enter the Annual Open and all works are for sale with 60% of the value going directly to the artists and 40% contributing to our programme. Southwark Park Galleries has proudly served the communities in Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and beyond for four decades, supporting almost 15,000 artists to date. Funding raised enables us to continue our work for hopefully the next 40 years.
The preview reception will take place on Saturday 2 November 1 - 4pm and, as is tradition, we mark the close of the Annual Open and the winner announcement with mulled wine and carols on Saturday 14 December 1 - 4pm.
Guidelines on how to enter will be announced in mid-August.
This exhibition is generously supported by Arts Council England.
