RWA 172 Annual Open Exhibition
06 Sep 2025 - 28 December 2025
Buy Art from the Exhibition
All works are available for sale at the RWA, or via our Online Shop.
To purchase work at the RWA, please enquire at one of our Welcome Desks.
Interest free payments plans are available through our Own Art Scheme.
Exhibition Ticket Prices:
- Annual Art Pass: £18 (unlimited access for a full year)
- Adult day ticket: £9.90 (includes optional £1 donation, eligible for gift aid)
- Concession* day ticket: £5.45 (includes optional 55p donation, eligible for gift aid)
- Free admission** for Friends of the RWA, RWA Art Pass Holders, under 18s, students (please bring student ID), refugees and people seeking asylum.
* Disabled people (required companion free); people on Universal Credit; Art Fund card holders
** All RWA Members (Patrons, Friends, Academicians, Artists Network); all under 18s; all FE & HE students with valid student ID; required companion for disabled people; Museums Association, AIM or SWFed members).
Key Dates
- Exhibition Opens: 6 September 2025
- Exhibition Closes: 28 December 2025
Invited Artist
This year, we are pleased to welcome Maria Lalić as the 172nd Annual Open Invited artist.
Annual Open Prizes:
Each year we present awards to featured artists in the Annual Open.
Who are the Judges?
RWA Academician Artists:
Ros Cuthbert RWA, Anna Gillespie RWA, Jemma Gunning RWA, Fiona Robinson PRWA, Hamish Young VPRWA
External Selectors:
Harold Offeh, artist and Head of Programme in MA Contemporary Art Practice, Royal College of Art
Anita Taylor RWA (Hon), Dean of Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee and Founder Director of Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize
David Trigg, writer, critic and art historian
The Prizes
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The Academy Award, sponsored by the RWA and RWA Academicians | Awarded to an outstanding work in any medium that has particularly appealed to the selectors (not open to RWA Academicians) | Prize: £3000
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The Steele Art Prize, awarded by Tony Steele | Awarded to work reflecting contemporary society, saying things about people or place and what’s going on around us or in the world | Prize: 2 x £2000
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Niche Print Makers Award, sponsored by Niche Frames | Awarded to any work using printmaking techniques | Prize: £250 in printing and framing, and £250 cash
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The Drawing Prize, sponsored by Fiona Robinson PRWA | Awarded to any drawing | Prize: £300
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The Painting Prize, sponsored by Derek Balmer PPRWA | Awarded to any painting | Prize: £300 and a copy of Derek Balmer: A Singular Vision, by Andrew Lambirth
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The Floating Circle Prize, sponsored by Friends of the RWA | Awarded to an emerging artist | Prize: Interview to be featured in Floating Circle magazine, as well as a £250
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Watercolour Award 1st Prize, sponsored by Consumer Intelligence. | Awarded to any watercolour painting | Prize: £250 cash
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Cass Art Award, sponsored by Cass Art | Prize: £150 Cass Art gift voucher, a solo show in the Bristol Artspace plus a feature on the Cass Art blog
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Evolver Magazine Cover Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any work | Prize: A cover image for the November/December issue of Evolver magazine
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Evolver Magazine Feature Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any artist | Prize: A feature article in the November/December issue of Evolver magazine
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The PJ Crook Prize for Narrative Figurative Painting | £1000 prize has been generously donated by the renowned painter and sculptor Dr. PJ Crook MBE RWA FRSAPangolin Sculpture Prize, sponsored by Pangolin Digital | Awarded to any sculpture | Prize: A 3D digital scan of your work by Pangolin Digital Ltd.
For further questions, contact us at: exhibition@rwa.org.uk
The 172 Annual Open Exhibition is sponsored by Hive Financial Planning and Abode
Artwork: Chelsea Cut (2025), Khana Evans
BSL Translation: Ahmed Mudawi
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