Email Friend Add to Favorites Report Listing

Event History

Now in its 13th year, WAC’s next exhibition will take place in August 2023. This annual showcase is a highlight of Wells cultural life and attracts thousands of visitors each summer. Selected artists’ works will be seen by a significant and attentive audience. Submissions can be in any medium or style. The competition draws artists from around the world, wishing to show in such an inspirational, prestigious and unusual space. Its international reach and reputation has grown significantly in recent years through the exhibition’s online platform and WAC’s ongoing association with eminent artists. An Antony Gormley sculpture is currently installed in niche 338 on the Cathedral’s West front.

What Makes this event different?

WAC provides two ways for artists to exhibit and sell work: the Gallery show, where artworks are shown in a temporary white-wall gallery within the Cathedral's cloisters; and the Installation Show which showcases site-specific installations in the main body of the Cathedral and its grounds. Both shows run concurrently. The Gallery is a unique showing space installed along three sides of the Cathedral's Cloisters where a well-lit, white-wall gallery is built to display work. It forms part of the main visitor route round the Cathedral and can be very busy, especially in summer. Artwork in any medium will be considered for exhibition here, including 3D and video.

Now in its 13th edition, Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) is calling for entries. 

WAC is an international art competition giving artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in Wells Cathedral and receive a wide range of prizes.

The Gallery Show is calling for artworks in all mediums, where artworks are shown in a temporary white-wall gallery within the Cathedral's cloisters. The Gallery Show offers a unique exhibition space, installed along three sides of the Cathedral's Cloisters where a well-lit, white-wall gallery is built to display work. 

Wells Cathedral, finished in the 14th century, is renowned as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Britain. Its awe-inspiring interior has wide, high, uncluttered spaces, monumental scissor arches, a fan-vaulted octagonal Chapter House and some of the finest medieval stained glass in the country. On the Cathedral’s South side is a quadrangle of stone-vaulted, medieval cloisters adjacent to the Camery Garden. This is a quiet, contemplative open space showing traces of earlier places of worship and a view of the famous springs of flowing water from which Wells takes its name.

Works in the Gallery show are chosen by a panel of established and well-known artist selectors and installed by our experienced team. They will also appear in WAC’s Virtual Exhibition and online shop. 

This year, the selection panel for the Gallery Show is formed of distinguished artists Curtis Holder, Nina Murdoch and Kelvin Okafor. 

The Prizes are: 

• Howden Art Award:  £2,000 awarded to one artist
• NG Art Creative Residency:  The NG Art Creative Residency Prize aims to discover and celebrate emerging and established creative talents from a variety of disciplines. The Prize Winner will receive a free two-week placement at NG Art Creative Residency in Provence. This includes board and lodging, studio space, mentorship and residency-related outings.
• JGM Gallery Prize: The winner of the JGM Gallery Prize will be featured on the gallery’s own website and social media channels. A selection of the winner’s works will be on display and for sale on the gallery website and promoted across their social media – including an artist interview to be posted on their Youtube channel.
• Student Prize:  £1,000 awarded to a current fine art student aged under 26 enrolled on a recognised Bachelor or Masters Fine Arts course. Generously donated by Tracey Grace.
• Parker Harris Mentoring Prize:  Parker Harris will give a one-to-one mentoring session covering all aspects of professional development to a selected artist.
• Somerset Art Works Mentoring Prize: one-to-one mentoring session covering all aspects of professional development to a selected artist.
• St Cuthberts Mill Award: 20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm worth over £120 will be awarded to an artist who works on paper.
• People’s Choice Prize: £500 will be awarded to the artwork which received the most public votes.

Submissions are now open to all artists over the age of 18, based internationally or in the UK. 

There is an entry fee of £17.50 per work or £10 per work for current fine art students aged under 26 who are enrolled on a recognised Bachelor or Masters Fine Arts course. 

Artists should note the following when entering the Gallery Show:

• Maximum dimensions for an individual work are 3.5m wide x 2.5m high x 2m deep
• Video artists must supply their own display equipment
• Artists may enter up to four works
• You must supply an image of your work (no more than 1MB) plus its title, medium, dimensions and price (provide edition sizes if copies or prints of the artwork are available). 

Entry is via the online application portal: https://new.artopps.co.uk/opportunities/Wells-Art-Contemporary2023 

The application deadline for the Gallery Show is Wednesday 10 May 2023 5pm BST.