As well as cash prizes, the people’s choice and a solo exhibition opportunity at 44ad artspace, we are pleased to be supported by SAW for The Bath Open Art Prize 2021, with a £250 Artist Development Bursary.

This specially tailored award is being provided by Somerset Art Works (SAW), part of their Artist Development Programme, funded by Arts Council England.

Open to Artists living in B&NES and Somerset, this £250 SAW Artist Development Bursary has been set up to contribute to development costs and mentoring, networking and funding advice, to support the selected Artist to develop their work and/or a project which responds to the theme 'Sanctuary'. This work will then have the opportunity to be showcased in the Somerset Art Works Festival 2022.

Somerset Art Works’ vision is for Somerset to be a place where people expect to engage with excellent visual art that is surprising and distinctive. They encourage Artists to experiment, produce and present new work, and for audiences to experience it first hand.

By providing place for professional Artists to work with schools, colleges and communities, SAW aims to embed education in a wide range of creative activities. Working with a wide range of partners SAW provides opportunities for Artists via research, residencies and commissions, developing new audiences and engaging with local communities who may have little contact with the arts.

Among all the inspiring projects SAW is involved in, the original purpose of the organisation is going strong: in 2000 SAW was set up to provide a permanent organisational structure for the existing annual Open Studios Festival, which was established in 1994 by local Artists to make connections between Artists from the region and promote their work.

Find out more about SAW’s open studios, festival events, Artist support, community and educational work on their website: somersetartworks.org.uk

The Bath Open Art Prize is now open to submissions, deadline 26 September 2021, visit bathopenartprize.co.uk for full info.

Now in its 9th year, The Bath Open Art Prize is one of the key open art prizes in the South West. Welcoming submissions from visual artists working in any medium, from across the globe. Developed as part of Fringe Arts Bath (FaB), alongside the established traditions, the prize welcomes more idiosyncratic and whimsical works that reflect FaB’s open approach.

From the many submissions received, works will be selected for an exhibition 20-31 October 2021 at 44ad artspace in central Bath.

Judges Jillian Sutherland, M.A., and Bridget Sterling, Curator, will join the exhibition selection team, and will be awarding the prizes.

Submission fees: £20 for 1 artwork, £30 for up to 3 artworks. All proceeds from the Bath Open Art Prize go towards producing the exhibition, and supporting production of Fringe Arts Bath Festival, a volunteer-led organisation.