Open Call: Baltic Open Submission 2026
Applications are now open for Baltic Open Submission 2026 and Baltic Open Submission: Youth Open Call supported by Fenwick.
Apply by: Tuesday 16 June 10am
Ever dreamed of displaying your art at Baltic? We're on the hunt for local artists, whether you’re a self-taught hobbyist or have studied in the past, to be a part of a multi-media exhibition of 100 works.
Apply by: Tuesday 16 June 10am
This call out is free to enter and open to anyone based in the North East of England.
Baltic's Open Submission, now in its third iteration, seeks to give visibility to individuals and collectives with no formal training, qualifications, or exhibiting experience necessary. A record 1,400 artists submitted in 2024, with 104 selected for the six-month exhibition.
Works will be reviewed by a panel including internationally renowned artists Laura Lancaster and Rachel Lancaster, Tees Valley Artist of the Year 2025 Will Hughes, and Baltic Assistant Curators Rose McMurray and Rosie Coleman Collier. The exhibition opens Saturday 19 September 2026, presenting up to 100 works.
We are also launching a Youth Open Call for 11–17-year-olds, supported by Fenwick, and themed around 'Local' — exploring local places, stories, and viewpoints. Selections will be made by Baltic's Young Producers and artist Terox. One winner will receive the Fenwick Award, with their work displayed in Fenwick's flagship Newcastle store.
Leo Fenwick, Strategic Partnerships Director, Fenwick said:
“Continuing our partnership with Baltic for a second year reflects Fenwick’s ongoing commitment to supporting creativity and emerging talent, something that has always been part of our brand DNA. Art and culture are integral to both our heritage and the communities we serve, and the Youth Open provides an inspiring platform for new artists to share their work. We’re proud to help spotlight the next generation of talent across the North East, with selected works also exhibited within our Newcastle store.”
Submitting your application
- Applications online via Submittable. Please follow this link and select the correct age range (18+ or 11–17).
- You will need to register with Submittable (if you do not have an existing account) and will need an email address to do this.
- It is free to register and submit an artwork for consideration by the panel.
- Please refer to the guidelines below before submitting a work.
- Should you still have a query, please contact open@baltic.art or come to our drop-in day on Thursday 4 June 2026 between 10am and 4pm.
- You can only submit one work, please submit 6 images of this work via Submittable or 3 images via post.
- Please note that the work you submit must be available for the exhibition at Baltic and must be available between 24 August 2026 – May 2027.
Guidelines
Please read the guidelines carefully, to ensure you are eligible to apply.
Baltic Open Submission 2026 (18+) guidelines
Baltic Open Submission: Youth Open supported by Fenwick guidelines
Key Dates
Tuesday 12 May 2026, 10:00: Open Submission process opens
Thursday 4 June, 10:00 – 16:00: Online and in-person Q&A drop-in session
Tuesday 16 June 2026, 10:00: Open Submission process closes
Tuesday 16 June 2026: Last day for postal entries to be received
Thursday 6 August 2026: All successful applicants contacted
Thursday 20 August 2026: Artists announced to media
Monday 24 – Sunday 30 August 2026: Participants to deliver the works selected for the exhibition to Baltic. The timing and process for this will be confirmed in detail with each participant closer to the time
Friday 18 September 2026: Exhibition Preview Party
19 September – May 2027: Exhibition open to the public
Who's on the panel?
Laura Lancaster lives and works in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. She completed her BA in Fine Art at Northumbria University. Lancaster’s work centres around the figure, often abstracting its presence, which is intensified by the manipulation of paint, creating ambiguous and surreal imagery. Recent solo and duo exhibitions include Remember, Somewhere, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead.
Rachel Lancaster lives and works in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. She completed her MFA in Fine Art at Newcastle University and her BA in Fine Art at Northumbria University. Rachel Lancaster uses painting as a means to slow down the act of looking, focusing the gaze on often overlooked scenes. Recent solo and duo exhibitions include Remember, Somewhere, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead.
Will Hughes lives and works in Stockton-on-Tees, UK. They completed their MFA at Northumbria University, Newcastle and BA in Fine Art at Bath School of Art. Hughes uses concepts of aspiration, queerness and glamour are central themes within Will’s work. Hughes has a vast exhibition history, having recently been in the group show Desire Lines: Art, People & Possibilites at MIMA, Middlesbrough, UK and was awarded Tees Valley Artist of the Year in 2025.
Terox is a contemporary graffiti artist that was selected for the Baltic Open Submission 2024. Since then, he has exhibited in Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery and at galleries in Leeds, Sheffield and London. As well as being selected for the RSA Upper Galleries in Edinburgh.
Young Producers are a collective of young artists, producers and leaders who create commissions, events, and workshops at Baltic. Their aim is to “make something that matters.” In 2024, with the support of artist, Bex Harvey, Young Producers developed a project based around ecological practice, nature, the environment, and climate change as part of Baltic’s Climate Action National Lottery Funded project: Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees.
With thanks to Baltic’s current Young Producers: Cecilia, Chloe C, Chloe W, Grace, Lara, Lucy, Sophie and Zuzanna.
