By entering the Visual Art Open you are deemed to have read and accepted all aspects of the rules described on this page. 

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1. The VAO is open to entrants aged 16 and over. Anyone under the age of 18 must provide written authorisation from a legal guardian.

2. All work submitted must be solely produced by the artist registered for this award.

3. Acceptable media include drawing, printing, painting, photography, digital art, sculpture and video. Installations or performance-based works are not eligible unless they can be presented as a single visual artwork.

4. Mature Content – artwork containing artistic nudity, significant simulated blood or gore, or violent themes may be classed as inappropriate content for our social media platforms. In such cases, these works may be blurred or labelled as ‘sensitive’.

5. Submission fee: £20 for the first submission and £10 per additional submission, up to a maximum of 5 entries per person. Entry fees are non-refundable.

6. Work must have been completed within the last three years.

7. Works should not be larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension, including frame or plinth.

8. Due to the high volume of applications received, only artists who are Longlisted, Shortlisted or Finalists will be notified by email, using the address provided upon entry. Please refer to the key dates on the VAO home page for announcement timings.

9. Paintings must be completely dry at the time of delivery.

10. Artists residing outside the UK are welcome to submit work. If your artwork is sold during the exhibition, you are responsible for complying with UK VAT regulations and registering with HMRC if applicable.

11. Artists sending work from abroad should use a picture carrier. Many artists use Picture Post, which offers packing and delivery services for our exhibitions (details below). These details are provided for your convenience only; the VAO does not endorse or accept liability for third-party carriers.
    Picture Post – Tel: 0044 (0)1302 711011 / Mobile: 07833 450788 / Email: info@picturepostcompany.co.uk

12. Applicants are responsible for providing correct personal information so that organisers can contact them.

13. Artwork that has been sold prior to entry is not eligible.

14. Entrants represented by a gallery or publisher must ensure that their submission does not breach any existing commercial agreements.

15. The VAO respects your rights and does not claim copyright for works submitted to the contest. You will retain full copyright in each entry.

16. The VAO will not be held responsible for any breach of commercial contract between the artist, gallery or publisher. Our role is to provide the commercial platform and introduction.

17. The VAO will not be responsible for any travel or personal expenses related to the VAO exhibition final or any visa requirements.

18. By entering, artists grant the VAO the right to reproduce images of their artwork for publicity, press, website, social media, and promotional materials in both print and digital form.

19. The jury’s decision is final. If the VAO is unable to contact any shortlisted artist or winner via the email address supplied, the shortlist position or prize will lapse and the VAO reserves the right to select an alternative.

20. Shortlisted artists will be contacted directly. The names of the winning and finalist artists will be published on our website, social media, and in other marketing publicity.

21. Artworks submitted for exhibition should be available for the duration of the 2026–2027 VAO exhibition period and should be for sale.

22. The artist is responsible for the delivery and collection of artworks for any finalist exhibition, as well as for insurance whilst in transit and for the duration that the artwork is with the VAO.

23. The VAO will take all reasonable care when handling artworks but accepts no liability for loss or damage during transit, storage or exhibition. Artists must ensure their work is adequately insured.

24. Finalists are welcome to deliver and hang their own artwork. To arrange this, please contact the organisers at info@visualartopen.com.

25. In all matters arising in connection with the competition, the VAO’s decision shall be final. No cash alternative is available.

26. The VAO depends on its sponsors and affiliated partners when promoting prizes for each edition. Should any affiliated partner or sponsor fail to complete their commitment for any reason, the VAO shall not be held responsible for this failure.

27. Should the event be partly or wholly cancelled due to circumstances beyond the organiser’s control, the VAO will offer an online exhibition or suitable alternative.

28. All entry submissions are final and entry fees are non-refundable. No compensation can be requested in any of the above cases.

29. AI-generated or AI-assisted artwork is not eligible for entry. All submitted work must be created manually and entirely by the artist.

30. A commission of 40% will be applied to all artwork sales made through the VAO exhibition.

31. The VAO reserves the right to cancel or amend this competition and its rules if necessary.

32. These rules are governed by English law and any disputes will be decided only by the courts of the United Kingdom.

33. Full details of each piece of work must be supplied when applying, including title, dimensions and a description (particularly where the work is installation-based or not self-explanatory).

34. More than two images should be supplied where necessary to show 3-D work properly.

35. Applicants are responsible for correctly pricing, sizing and describing their artwork. Any changes to the original details provided upon application must be notified in writing to the organisers.

36. VAO exhibitions may be filmed or photographed for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to being included in this material. Personal data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

37. For overseas winners, payments will be made via PayPal. Please note that PayPal currency conversion rates may vary from standard rates; the VAO cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies.

38. For any questions regarding eligibility or entry, please contact info@visualartopen.com before submitting.