Artists from across the East Midlands are invited to submit their work for Open: The People’s Exhibition 2025, Leicester’s annual celebration of local creativity.
The exhibition will return to Leicester Museum & Art Gallery this November, showcasing selected works including paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints, and photographs by artists living or studying in Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Northamptonshire.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
Submissions are open to anyone aged 19 and over, from beginners to professional artists. There’s also a dedicated youth category for artists aged 5–18, with free entry.
The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Tuesday 30 September.
A panel of judges will review entries after the deadline, and the chosen works will be exhibited from late November 2025 through to the end of January 2026. All displayed artworks will be available for sale, with purchased pieces collected after the exhibition ends. Prizes for outstanding works will be sponsored by local businesses and organisations.
Cllr Vi Dempster, Assistant City Mayor for Culture, said: “Leicester’s Open exhibition draws entries from all walks of life – young talents, passionate hobbyists, and seasoned professionals. It’s a fantastic chance for creatives to present their work in the beautiful setting of Leicester Museum & Art Gallery and to be part of our region’s vibrant artistic community.”
Entry fees for adults vary depending on the number of works submitted. Full submission details, guidelines, and the online application form are available at:
? leicestermuseums.org/the-open
