Transport booking is now closed. You will no longer be able to book transport to and from the RWA from London, Exeter or Penzance.

The Royal West of England Academy holds an Annual Open Exhibition, now in its 168th year. As the name suggests, anyone can enter their work for this mixed discipline show – previous years have included painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, sculpture and illustration, and attracted entries from artists across the UK and beyond. A selection panel assesses every entry and last year 657 works by 451 artists made it into the final exhibition. All work is for sale and the exhibition attracts art-lovers and art-buyers from far and wide.

Please be aware that due to the current situation, both rounds of selection for this year’s Annual Open will take place online. Artists will be notified after the second round of selection and will be required to deliver their works if Selected to the RWA.

The deadline for submissions via this online system is 5pm, 22 September 2020.

Please ensure you have read the Terms & Conditions before entering to ensure your work is eligible for submission.

Please note that if you already have an account with the the RWA that username and password will not work here. When you register you will be issued with a new password if you have not entered Artopps before.

Artists of any age, gender and nationality may enter our exhibition.

Artists may enter up to 3 works, made within the last three years.

2D works may be no larger than 214cm x 214cm, 3D must have a footprint not larger than 100cm x 100cm.

Please see full T&C’s for further guidance, including maximum size restrictions.

Standard Entries
£20.00 per artwork up to 3 artworks.

Students
£15.00 per artwork up to 3 artworks.

RWA Friends
£15.00 per artwork up to 3 artworks.

RWA Artist Network
£10.00 per artwork up to 3 artworks.

RWA Academician
Free entry up to 4 artworks.

RWA Academician Candidate
Free Entry up to 3 artworks.

The Academy Prize

• 1^st Prize £5000 awarded to any artist working in any medium
• 2^nd Prize £1000 awarded to any artist, with the exception of RWA Academicians, working in any medium, kindly donated by Past Presidents and RWA Academicians

Prize for Artwork by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Artists

• £1000

The Work on Paper Prize, donated by Yvonne Crossley RWA (and The Drawing Gallery)

• £800

The Painting Prize, sponsored by Derek Balmer PPRWA

• £250

Evolver Wessex Cover Award

• Chosen artwork to be featured on the cover of Evolver magazine

Evolver Wessex Artist Award

• Chosen artist to be featured in article in Evolver magazine

The Student Prize, sponsored by The Friends of the RWA

• An interview to be featured in Floating Circle magazine, plus publicity and £100 worth of art materials

People’s Choice Award

• £500

This year’s exhibition will run from 21 November 2020 – 7 March 2021.

Please be aware that due to COVID-19, the gallery may be open for reduced hours and advanced booking may be necessary. Please check the website to plan your visit.

All artworks in the exhibition will be available to view and buy online from the RWA website.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Invited Artists are painter and printmaker and current RA President Rebecca Salter and artist Frank Bowling OBE RA.