RWA 172 Annual Open Exhibition

RWA 172 Annual Open Exhibition

06 Sep 2025 - 28 December 2025

Venue

RWA, Queen's Road, Bristol

Price

£9.90

Date

06 Sep 2025 - 28 December 2025

The RWA Annual Open Exhibition is one of the UK’s most prestigious open-submission exhibitions, welcoming artists at all stages of their careers. Now in its 172nd year, this highly anticipated event provides a platform for emerging and established artists to exhibittheir work in the RWA’s stunning Grade II*-listed galleries. 

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

 

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

  • The Academy Award,sponsored by the RWAandRWA Academicians| Awarded to an outstanding work in any medium that has particularly appealed to the selectors (not open to RWA Academicians) | Prize: £3000 

  • 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

  • Niche Print Makers Award,sponsored byNiche Frames| Awarded to any work using printmaking techniques|Prize: £250 in printing and framing, and £250 cash 

  • The Drawing Prize, sponsored byFiona Robinson PRWA| Awarded to any drawing | Prize: £300

  • The Painting Prize,sponsored byDerek Balmer PPRWA|Awarded to any painting|Prize: £300 and a copy ofDerek Balmer: A Singular Vision,by Andrew Lambirth 

  • The Floating Circle Prize, sponsored byFriends of the RWA| Awarded to an emerging artist |Prize: Interview to be featured in Floating Circle magazine, as well as a £250   

  • Watercolour Award 1st Prize, sponsored by Consumer Intelligence. | Awarded to any watercolour painting | Prize: £250 cash    

  • 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

  • Evolver Magazine Cover Award,sponsored byEvolver Magazine| Awarded to any work|Prize: A cover imagefor the November/December issue of Evolver magazine

  • Evolver Magazine Feature Award,sponsored byEvolver Magazine| Awarded to any artist|Prize: A feature article in the November/December issue of Evolver magazine  

  • 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 FRSA

    Pangolin 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

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