The Dorset Open | Celebrating Creativity Across the County

Dorset Visual Arts (DVA), in proud partnership with Dorset Museum & Art Gallery (DMAG), is delighted to launch a brand-new major open art competition – marking a landmark first collaboration between these two leading cultural institutions. The exhibition is being hosted by DMAG, produced by DVA with support from Dorchester Arts, Arts in Hospital and Evolver Magazine.

Selected finalists will have their work exhibited in a professionally curated show at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in Dorchester running 18 October until 30 November 2025.

This major new Dorset Arts Open calls for submissions from all artists and makers. It is an exciting opportunity for artists working in various media – painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media, digital, and beyond – to submit work that either captures the essence of the region’s landscape, people, history, or culture or explores their relationship to the area. Whether you were born here, live or work in Dorset, or simply feel creatively inspired by the area, this is a unique opportunity to share your vision of what this region means to you.

Following the climate emergency declarations by Dorset Visual Arts and Dorset Council, a prize category will highlight artworks addressing the Climate and Ecological Emergency. This category will recognise pieces that either employ sustainable artistic methods or whose subject matter explores environmental threats or concerns.

We want to provide a new opportunity to showcase the best of the region’s creative talent, open to all art forms including makers, fine art and contemporary practice. The competition is designed to be inclusive and representative of the region’s diverse artistic community. With a range of prizes and a professional panel of judges, this will appeal to established as well as emerging talent, with a particular focus on encouraging submissions from younger artists.

The prize categories recognise outstanding artistic achievement and celebrate creativity across experience levels, backgrounds, and perspectives:

First general category: £500
Second general category: £250
Young/Emerging Artist category: £200
Climate Emergency Award: £200
Dorchester Arts solo exhibition during Dorset Art Weeks 2026
Dorset County Hospital exhibition
DVA Prize: 1 year DVA Membership + free Dorset Art Weeks entry + Sherborne Times feature
DM&AG Prize: Arts and Culture Bundle
Evolver Magazine Feature
Framing Prize: Provided by Mount Collective
People’s Winner (public vote): £100 + showcase on DMAG digital platforms

Entries will be carefully reviewed by a professional judging panel of five experts drawn from across the arts and cultural sectors, ensuring a high-quality, fair and inspiring selection process. The judges are:

Freeny Yianni – (Curator and Gallerist, Close Ltd)
Simon Barber – (Editor, Evolver Magazine)
Suzy Rushbrook – (Curator, Arts in Hospital)
Ian Middleton RWA – Sculptor
Jack Dickson – Artist and Participant in BBC Extraordinary Artists
Submissions will be live on Tuesday, 1st July at 9am.

Artists selected for exhibition will also have the opportunity to sell their work, making this not only a prestigious showcase but also a valuable opportunity for professional development.

This competition forms part of a broader initiative to support, nurture, and celebrate the visual arts, reinforcing the shared mission of Dorset Visual Arts and Dorset Museum & Art Gallery to champion creativity, inclusion, and community engagement across the region.