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1. What is the Shape Open?
2. Who can apply?
3. Do you have to be disabled to submit artwork to the Open?
4. How do I apply? What is the process?
5. When is the deadline for applications?
6. Do I have to pay to apply?
7. What is the theme of the exhibition?
8. Does my work need to be about the theme?
9. What art forms are you accepting?
10. Where will the work be shown?
11. Do I need to make a new work for this call out?
12. My work hasn’t been documented to a high standard. Can I still submit it?
13. How likely am I to be selected?
14. I need support with my application, can you help?
15. How will artists be selected?
16. I am not based in the UK. Can I still apply?
17. Can someone else complete my application for me?
18. If I am not selected, will I receive feedback on my application?
19. I have exhibited in the Shape Open before. Can I apply to be in it again?
20. Can I submit an artwork that was shown at another Shape Open? 
21. Will I have to pay to transport my artwork?
22. My artwork is very large, can I still submit it?
23. Is there a winner’s prize?
24. Does my work need to be accessible in order for me to submit it?

1. What is the Shape Open?

The Shape Open is an’ annual exhibition of art by disabled and non-disabled artists, centred around a disability-related theme. The Open provides a space where disabled and non-disabled artists can exchange ideas about topics which are often sidelined within artistic debate. Visit our website to learn about past Shape Open exhibitions.

2. Who can apply?

Artists must be 18 years of age or over to apply. 

3. Do you have to be disabled to submit artwork to the Open? 

No. All you need to do on the form is self-identify as disabled or non-disabled, or give your own preferred word or term. Learn about the Social Model of Disability on our website, where you can find an animation and an Easy Read document.

4. How do I apply? What is the process

1. Complete the application form of your choice on our website.
   

2. Make sure you reply to each part of the form, even if sending us answers by audio or video. Without these details we cannot process the application.
   

3. Our panel will select the artworks by the end of October 2023.
   

4. The panel will contact artists to let them know if their work is to be selected or not. 

5. The panel will then contact selected artists about exhibiting their work.
   

5. When is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for submitting your application is 24 September 2023 at midnight BST.

6. Do I have to pay to apply?

No. It is free to apply.

7. What is the theme of the exhibition?

The theme this year is ‘Open All Hours.’

“Beyoncé has the same 24 hours in a day that we do”

- Molly Mae Hague, The Diary of a CEO Podcast

“There are now very few significant interludes of human existence … that have not been penetrated and taken over as work time, consumption time, or marketing time.” 

― Jonathan Crary, 24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep

The idea of a 24/7 culture of waking, work, and productivity has been a reality for some time, but in our digital age, it has seeped even into the bedroom, with our devices constantly linked to the world outside. Estimations suggest adults sleep on average 1-2 hours less per night today than in the 1960s.

Alongside this, more and more of us are choosing to live in huge cities, close to round-the-clock entertainment, opportunity, accessibility and convenience. By 2050, it’s predicted that more than two thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, leaving behind quieter, more isolated, and often more poorly-resourced areas.

And yet without this quiet, and with decreasing access to nature, we grow ever more disconnected from the turning of the planet that sustains us, to the rhythm of night and day, waking and rest, that is so deeply wired into what we are.

What is the cost of this to us? To be thought of as ‘successful’ today often means ‘productive,’ or in other words, the more you make and the faster you do so, the better you are - and this often translates into being better off. For disabled people in particular, the idea of productivity has been closely linked to those of ‘value’ or ‘worth.’ In our accelerating culture, where does this leave anyone who needs or wants more time to think, act, function, or simply exist?

For this year’s Shape Open exhibition, titled Open All Hours, we welcome submissions of work that explore the pressurised relationship we have with time, productivity, and the pace of our modern, increasingly digital, society.

Artists may submit a maximum of 2 artworks. Submitted moving image work will not be considered if the duration exceeds 20 minutes. We will not accept any work that involves copyright infringement, the work must be genuinely your own. There is no limit on what year the work was created, but works that speak most authentically to our current times are preferable.

8. Does my work need to be about the theme?

Yes, the work should address the theme, either directly or indirectly.

9. What art forms are you accepting?

Like previous Shape Opens, we accept a variety of visual art forms such as painting, drawing, sculpture, film, audio/sound, photography, mixed media, text, performance, textiles and so on. You can find the artworks for each year on our website. Unlike recent Shape Open exhibitions, there will be an opportunity to physically exhibit your work. If you are submitting a physical work, we will ask you to provide the dimensions.

10. Where will the work be shown?

This year’s Shape Open will be a physical exhibition in a gallery in London. The programme will be designed around the selected artworks. We will also share the exhibition material online for our audiences - across our social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) and on our main website.

11. Do I need to make new work?

No. You can submit work that you have already made, works in progress, R&Ds, or, should you wish to, new work. 

12. My work hasn’t been documented to a high standard. Can I still submit it?

Yes. We will be selecting works with the intention to exhibit them in person, where we will have the opportunity to properly photograph them for any online sharing or promotional materials.

13. How likely am I to be selected?

The number of applicants varies from year to year. Our 2022 call out received almost 200 submissions. In previous years, we have exhibited between 20 and 25 artists in the Shape Open exhibition, meaning a rough estimate would suggest 1 in 9 applicants are successful.

14. I need support with my application, can you help?

If you need support with your application, please contact us via [email protected]. It will be helpful if you could let us know what support you need when doing so.

15. How will artists be selected?

Artists will be selected by a panel process including the Shape programme team and an invited artist.

16. I am not based in the UK. Can I still apply?

Yes. We welcome applications from artists based anywhere in the world. The deadline is 24 September 2023 at midnight BST.

17. Can someone else complete my application for me?

Yes. As long as they have your full consent and you are happy with what they are submitting on your behalf. If you don’t have support, and need assistance to complete and submit your application, please contact us via [email protected]  

18. If I am not selected, will I receive feedback on my application?

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee being able to give feedback to individuals. Where we can, however, we will create new resources to share with disabled artists to improve their future chances.

19. I have exhibited in the Shape Open before. Can I apply to be in it again?

Yes. We welcome applications from artists we have worked with previously in any capacity.

20. Can I submit an artwork that was shown at a previous Shape Open? 

No, we won’t re-exhibit the same artwork. But that doesn’t stop you submitting other work, even if you have exhibited with us before. 

21. Will I have to pay to transport my artwork?

No. Shape will pay for the transportation of all selected artworks within the bounds of our budget. We will be in touch with selected artists to discuss and make arrangements. Artists will need to pay for the packaging materials prior to delivery. 

22. My artwork is very large, can I still submit it?

We will take into consideration the size of each selected artwork to ensure they are presented in the best way possible in the gallery. There are three gallery spaces, each is just under 6 metres wide and 3 metres tall. As long as your work does not exceed these limitations, you can submit it to the Shape Open.

23. Is there a winner’s prize? 

No. Instead, each selected artist will receive a participation grant of £250.

24. Does my work need to be accessible in order for me to submit it?

We will discuss this along with presentational matters with each selected artist on an individual basis.

As an organisation committed to making arts accessible to all, we may add captions or British Sign Language to moving images with spoken word, create audio descriptions and large print versions of text-based works.