RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize
RISE by Henley Festival is a charitable programme which supports emerging talent in the creative industries.
The Rise by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize has been created to acknowledge emerging talent in the visual arts. The award gives recognition and awareness to outstanding visual artists who are over the age of 18 and are in the early stages of their professional career or who have not yet established a reputation as an artist amongst art curators, buyers and critics.
- Submissions open on 14th February 2025
- Submissions close 14th April 2025
- Judging commences: 15th April 2025
- Shortlisted artists announced: 30th April 2025
Shortlisted artists will be contacted by the judges and the three finalists will be announced on 7th May 2025.
Three Finalists
First prize of £1000, and two runners up prizes of £500.
The winners will be given an exhibition space in which to exhibit their work at the Audi High RISE gallery at Henley Festival 9th-13th July 2025. The value of this space is approximately £750. All work must be for sale and, in the spirit of encouraging emerging talent, Henley Festival will take no commission on sales and will provide agreed expenses up to £300 for transporting work. The three winners will be required to attend the festival and will also receive complimentary ticket for two guests each night.
By entering the competition you are agreeing, to be bound by the Henley Festival Terms and Conditions and if you are selected as a finalist, to show your artwork at the RISE exhibition stand at Henley Festival 9th – 13th July 2025. Artists are responsible for delivering work to the exhibition, hanging it and collecting unsold works after the Festival closes. By entering the competition, you are confirming that you are not represented by a commercial art gallery. RISE will confirm the size of the exhibition space.
We accept:
- Paintings
- Drawings
- Original Prints
- Textile and mixed media
- Collaborative artworks can be submitted
We do not accept:
- Three dimensional/sculptural work
- Digital, computer manipulated, or AI art
- Pure photography
- Artwork of an inappropriate or offensive subject matter
- Digital prints e.g. giclée
Your entry should reflect your current or lifelong body of work.
Entrants must submit artworks that are available, so that they have access to the original pieces and can take part in the exhibition. All artwork entered into the competition must be unsold and available for sale during the festival if selected.
Entries must feature work completed by the entrants themselves and must be their own original work. The artist must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of all artwork entered.
HOW TO ENTER
Please email your entry to rise@henley-festival.co.uk.
JUDGES
A panel of judges, chosen by RISE by Henley Festival, will be announced shortly.
INFORMATION FOR ARISTS
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY WORK?
Please send digital images of three to five works which are currently unsold and will be available for exhibition in July 2025. You should accompany your application with full details of each painting and the retail price. Your application should be supported by artist statement outlining any training you have received, relevant experience in the fine art field and introduction to your work as a whole. Your statement should highlight common concerns, motivations and processes running through your work. The artist statement and bio should not exceed 500 words.
Artists are encouraged to send a short film (no more than 2 minutes) introducing themselves and displaying the artwork which they are submitting. It should be considered as an informal ‘Studio Visit’ for the judges.
All digital images should be between 1MB and 2MB. Only the following file formats are acceptable: JPEGs or PNGs. Each image file must be named with your surname, first name and brief title e.g. SmithJohn_Title.jpeg.
The image should be an accurate representation of your artwork, taken in natural light, as well as being of a high resolution for reproduction online.
WHAT ARE THE JUDGES LOOKING FOR?
Our aim is to find emerging artists that show significant potential, interesting ideas, a relevant message and skilful execution, and give them the opportunity to exhibit their work as part of the RISE programme at the Henley Festival.
WHO CAN ENTER?
Anyone aged 18 years or above on 31st January 2025 living and working in the UK can enter the competition. The prize is for emerging artists who do not yet have gallery representation but who aspire to a career as an artist.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
Your submission must be designed to hang on, or to be fixed to, a wall.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A PAINTED MEDIUM?
Oil paint, acrylic, gouache, watercolours, emulsion and household paint will be accepted as painted mediums. Digital and video-based artworks will not be accepted.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM SIZE YOU CAN ENTER?
The overall framed size must not exceed 1 metre by 1 metre (width or length). There is no minimum size.
IS MY ARTWORK COVERED BY YOUR INSURANCE?
No, you must arrange your own insurance to cover both transportation to and from the exhibition and also while in the exhibition.
Please send your entry to rise@henley-festival.co.uk
Including:
- Name
- Address
- Bio
- Supporting information including details of training
- Artist statement (up to 500 words)
- Digital images: JPEGs or PNGs. Each image file must be named with your surname, first name and brief title e.g. SmithJohn_Title.jpeg.
For further information, please contact: emmae@henley-festival.co.uk.