We welcome submissions from emerging and early career artists who are final year students, recent graduates and post-graduate students from UK art schools and alternative learning programmes. We are committed to inclusion and equal opportunities and encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, ages, genders, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and from those who identify as having a disability.
Being selected for New Contemporaries programme includes:
- Exhibiting as part of Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2024. Selected artists are offered an artist’s fee and reasonable travel and accommodation costs covered for the private view of both exhibitions. The exhibition is supported by Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies;
- Participating in New Contemporaries Bridget Riley Artists’ Development Programme, which includes 1to1 mentoring; Peer Networking Sessions; Workshops, Talks and other artist development opportunities. This programme is supported by Arts Council England and The Bridget Riley Art Foundation;
- Contributing to our Digital Programme and the opportunity to present work on our channels including the online platform which complements the exhibitions;
- Being eligible, as NC alumni, for Studio Bursaries, Residencies, Fellowships, Scholarships and other opportunities;
- Being part of a network of other participating artists and previous alumni that spans over 70 years, including: post-war figures Frank Auerbach, Bruce Lacey and Paula Rego; pop artists Frank Bowling, Patrick Caulfield and David Hockney; new media pioneers Stuart Brisley, Helen Chadwick and Derek Jarman; YBAs Damien Hirst, Chris Ofili and Gillian Wearing; alongside contemporary figures such as Tacita Dean, Sunil Gupta, Mark Leckey and Mona Hatoum; and more recently a new generation of exceptional artists including Monster Chetwynd, Rachel Maclean, Haroon Mirza, Hardeep Pandhal, Laure Prouvost and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.
To apply, works should be submitted through our submission website – all works must be available for collection and return from a UK address. There is a £25 submission fee, which goes towards the costs of the two-stage selection process. The fee is non-refundable and is to be paid through PayPal on the submission site.
Accessibility
We are happy to assist artists who may identify as having a disability with the application process. Please contact us at submissions@newcontemporaries.org.uk.
An audio version of the guidelines can be found on each page and a step-by-step video on uploading your submission can be found here:
