Wells Art Contemporary is calling for artists’ entries

The work can be in any medium: painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, installation, or video, and the closing date is Thursday, April 25.

WAC provides an exciting opportunity for artists to enter an international open competition, with 3,700 submissions last year from 45 different countries.

The successfully shortlisted artwork will have the prestige of being included in an exhibition at Wells Cathedral, from July 15 to August 14 2022, and the ensuing visibility that it entails: footfall to the cathedral is estimated at 25,000 over the summer, whilst the virtual exhibition can be viewed worldwide.

In addition, all shortlisted artists will be in the running to win a wide range of awards. These include cash prizes, an art residency in Provence, gallery feature opportunities, one-on-one mentoring, and more.

Conor Doyle won the NG Creative Art Residency prize for his sculpture The Pigington Club and will be taking up the two-week residency in Provence this year.

“What an awesome showcase, in one of the most spectacular gallery locations, alongside a diverse collection of exciting artists stating their claim for emerging art at this moment, every emerging artist... young and old needs to get involved,” he said.

The WAC 2022 shortlist will be selected by a prestigious panel of artists: Matthew Burrows MBE, contemporary artist, and founder of the Artist Support Pledge; Dale Lewis, contemporary painter represented by Edel Assanti; and Nana Shiomi, artist-printmaker whose work is held in collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Artists can enter up to four works and there is the unique chance to create specific installations inspired by the magnificent surroundings, to be held within the Cathedral and its grounds.

Taunton artist, Leah Hislop, won the Somerset Art Works Prize last year with her woven site-specific installation ‘Sanctuary’, inspired by the concept of sacred geometry and Wells Cathedral itself.


Sanctuary, by Leah Hislop, winner of the Somerset Art Works Prize last year

The installation was built by weaving and knotting intricate threads between the yew tree in the Palm Churchyard.

Leah encourages any artist to take part. “Winning the prize has given me the confidence that I am stepping in the right direction in my art practice,’ she said.

“It has definitely given me the self-assurance to say, ‘when in doubt, go for it anyway’”.

The deadline for online submissions for WAC 2022 is Thursday, April 25. The entry fee is £15 per work. Full details and online applications are available at www.wac.artopps.co.uk