Royal Ulster Academy of Arts

145th RUA Annual Exhibition – Call for Entries 2026

The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts invites submissions for the 145th RUA Annual Exhibition, Northern Ireland’s longest-established open exhibition of contemporary visual art.

Founded in 1879, the RUA Annual presents a rigorously selected survey of current practice and is a major platform for both emerging and established artists. The exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, from October 2026 to January 2027 (subject to confirmation).

Who Can Apply

Submissions are open to artists aged 18 and over.

The Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition primarily presents works in painting, drawing, original print, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and craft, reflecting the Academy’s longstanding emphasis on materially-based practices.

Artists working with multi-media or digital processes may submit work; however, the exhibition format and available infrastructure are principally designed for physical works. As a result, only a very limited number of digital or screen-based works can typically be accommodated.

All works are considered through a democratic selection process by the Academy’s panel.

Technical requirements and presentation guidelines for digital or multi-media submissions are available here: [Digital & Multi-Media Submission Guidelines].

Additional Conditions

Work must have been created between 2024 and 2026

Work previously exhibited in Northern Ireland is not eligible

Maximum size: 2 metre in any one direction. There is no minimum size
Artists should bear in mind that the exhibition typically includes several hundred works, and larger works may be more difficult to accommodate within the available gallery space

All works must be for sale and suitably prepared for display

Works on canvas may be submitted unframed, provided they are properly stretched and presented in an exhibition-ready condition suitable for display.

Submission fees are non-refundable and apply whether or not a work is selected

How to Apply

Online submissions only

Opens: 10 March 2026

Deadline: 14 July 2026 (midnight)

Maximum of three works per artist

⚠️ Important:
Physical artworks must not be delivered at the submission stage. Delivery is only permitted for artists shortlisted following Stage 1 digital pre-selection.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Digital pre-selection (completed 22nd July 2026)

Stage 2: Physical selection for shortlisted artists only

Delivery date: Sunday, 2 August 2026

Belfast delivery address to be confirmed and issued directly to shortlisted artists

Optional Dublin drop-off  1st August available via an independent third-party service (small handling fee applies)

contact brian@tomcaldwellgallery.com  or phone +44 7711 716 887  for further details

Pricing

1 artwork: £20

Up to 2 artworks: £35

Up to 3 artworks: £50

Selected works are subject to a 30% RUA commission.
Minimum artwork price: £200.

Submission fees are non-refundable and apply whether or not a work is selected

Framed Multiples (Photographs & Prints)

For editioned works, the exhibited piece is the only framed example sold through the RUA.
Any additional editions sold through the RUA will be supplied unframed, with framing arrangements left to be agreed privately between artist and purchaser.

Image Files
Images must be uploaded as JPEG (.jpg) or TIFF (.tif/.tiff) files. Files should be of sufficient quality for the selectors to assess the work clearly. As a guide, image files should be approximately 2–5 MB in size. Excessively large files should be avoided as they may increase upload times without improving the selection process.

Framing
Artwork on wooden board or panel may be submitted unframed, provided the edges are cleanly finished, the work is professionally presented, and it is suitable for exhibition. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artists using AI tools must comply with the RUA’s AI Usage Policy and declare AI use where applicable.
Full policy:
https://www.royalulsteracademy.org/ai-policy

Key Notes

All works are submitted at the artist’s risk; artists are responsible for insurance

Entry fees are non-refundable

Dates, venues, and delivery arrangements are subject to change

Enquiries

📧 info@royalulsteracademy.org
🌐 www.royalulsteracademy.org

Please Note: The above terms and conditions are provided by the exhibition organisers.

For terms and conditions which apply to the use of the OESS entry system please view below:
OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

Eligibility

Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world. 

Artists may enter a maximum of six works each, from which up to four works per artist may be selected. 

Artists are strongly urged to submit new work not previously exhibited.

Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension. 

All works must be an original creation by the artist.

Subject matter: Subject matter must be essentially marine in nature, relating in some way to tidal waters of the world; topographical, historical, still life, and figure painting are all welcomed. 

Works relating to non-tidal rivers, inland lakes and waterways etc. are not permissible. 

Acceptable media: Oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints of any media (excluding photography), mixed media, textiles, drawings, pastels, or sculpture. 

Works may be from a limited edition not exceeding fifty. 

Submission Fee

There is a non-refundable submission fee of £22 per work, or £14.50 per work for artists aged 35 or under.

The submission fee includes free admission to the exhibition (normally £7).

Submission fees support the not-for-profit programme at Mall Galleries. The gallery is home to visual arts charity, the Federation of British Artists (Registered Charity Number 200048).

We have partnered with the Visual Artists Association to offer a Free Artist Resource Pack to all entrants. This includes 'The Artist's Guide to Selling Art on Instagram’ (PDF) and 'Instagram for Art Careers’ (Video Masterclass). Entrants will receive instructions to download the Artist Resource Pack upon notification of selection.

Presentation

Frames or stretchers should be sufficiently substantial to withstand mirror plating with 12mm (size 6) screws.

Artists are advised to use plain, simple framing in a light or medium colour. 

Metal frames, unprotected glass edges and clip frames are inadmissible. 

Please remove all fittings and fixings from the back of frames, for example D-rings and picture wire. This is to prevent damage to other works, and because we will mirror-plate works for hanging. 

Delivery & Collection

Works should be delivered and collected on the specified receiving and collection days via the gallery's rear entrance at Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD. 

If you are unable to deliver or collect your work, you may send another person on your behalf – this may include an art courier (see below).

Artists are responsible for the costs of delivery and collection.

Delivery:

Works should be delivered unwrapped with the relevant form and labels, which are downloadable upon notification of selection.

All packaging must be taken away at the point of delivery. 

Collection:

We are unable to wrap works or provide wrapping for works being returned. 

Any uncollected works may be removed from the gallery after the collection day and stored by an independent courier company at the artist's expense. 

If works are not collected within 12 months of the collection day, the gallery will be entitled to destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of the works without consent, prior notification, or compensation to the artist. 

Art Couriers: 

Below is a list of art couriers by region: 

• London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Bristol

Art Moves of Chelsea
artmoveschelsea@aol.com
020 7352 7492

• Scotland, the North of England and Birmingham 

Picture Post Art
info@picturepostcompany.co.uk
07833 450788

Picture Post Art receive artwork for delivery to UK galleries: “handing in” unwrapped and storing packaging free of charge for reuse if required.

• Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset

3 Lanes Transport
info@3lanes.com
01736 799298 / 07970 948324

• Leicester, Loughborough, Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham

JD Art Transport
jdarttransport@gmail.com
07825 339787

• Norfolk and Suffolk 

A S Elvin Transport Ltd
bernadette@elvingroup.co.uk
01502 677025

• Nationwide

Aardvark Art Services
01253 794673

• Wales

Mid Wales Freight
enquiries@midwalesfreight.co.uk
07866 731400 / 01974 282500

International Artists:

Many international artists use Picture Post Art to transport their work to and from Mall Galleries.

Picture Post Art arrange for the shipping of work from the artist's country to the UK, help artists to correctly fill out paperwork from customs, and store packaging for reuse if required. 

Picture Post Art
info@picturepostcompany.co.uk
+ 44 7833 450788

Please note that we do not accept liability for the services of any art courier.

Selection

The works for exhibition are selected by a committee formed of members of the Society. 

If selected works arrive damaged, with unacceptable framing, size discrepancies from the original submission, or not as shown online, these will be withdrawn and work will need to be collected from Mall Galleries by the artist at their expense.

The decision of the Selection Committee is final and we are unable to offer feedback.

The prize winning works are selected in time for the awards ceremony during the Private View, prior to the exhibition opening to the public. 

Sales

All work must be for sale.

Once work has been submitted, any sale made by the gallery before or during the course of the exhibition up to and including the collection day shall take precedence and supersede one made privately. Any private sale made in this period will incur the normal commission.

There is a minimum price per work of £600, except for prints – framed £325, unframed £200. (Buyers will not be charged for postage and packaging of unframed prints, so please ensure the price of unframed prints allows for this).

Unless otherwise advised, the gallery will charge a commission on the total price paid for works, including commissioned works, before, during, or as a result of the exhibition.

The price submitted should be the selling price, which should include commission, and is the price at which the work will be sold.

The price of works must include commission of 45% +VAT. If an artist is registered for VAT, then the VAT due on the selling price of works should be included in the price submitted.

Mall Galleries reserves the right to query the price of works.

The price of works may only be changed by written agreement between the artist and Mall Galleries.

You will be notified by Mall Galleries if your work sells.

Artists who are not resident in the UK but are resident in the EU or elsewhere are welcome to submit work.

Artists without a UK residence are classified as NETPs (Non-Established Taxable Persons) and must register with HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) for a UK VAT number in order for their work to be included in the exhibition. If selected for the exhibition, you must supply us with your UK VAT number before the Receiving Day, otherwise your work may be withdrawn. We will be unable to issue payment for any sales of work by artists classified as NETPs until a UK VAT number is supplied.

More information about UK VAT registration can be found under Section 9 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-7001-should-i-be-registered-for-vat/vat-notice-7001-should-i-be-registered-for-vat

If you have any questions, please contact HMRC directly on their VAT Helpline on Telephone 0300 200 3701, or, if calling from abroad, +44 2920 501 261.

Please note: the registration process can take up to 4 weeks so please allow enough time to register.

Personal Data

The gallery will hold personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, the gallery may provide third parties with an artist's contact details in the course of administering exhibitions, commissions and prizes.

The gallery has the right to reproduce works in connection with the exhibition.

The copyright and all other intellectual property rights will remain with the artist. If any rights are owned by a third party, that third party will remain the owner. 

Liability

The gallery is not responsible for any loss of, or any damage to, works entrusted to them. All goods are at the artist owner's risk absolutely and the gallery and/or their agents exclude all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law. The galleries are used for various purposes and so artists are advised to insure their works against all risks. 

The gallery endeavours to take good care of works sent for exhibition, but in the event of a work sent being lost, destroyed or damaged, the gallery's liability (if any) shall not exceed the value of the work as stated at the time of submission (less 45% plus VAT) or any altered price subsequently. 

In the event of any dispute regarding loss or damage, the dispute shall be referred for final arbitration to an independent expert valuer to be chosen by agreement between the parties, provided that the arbitrator's award shall not exceed the gallery's maximum liability as above. 

Artists shall indemnify and keep indemnified the gallery against any actions between the artist and any third party. 

Help

If you require support with your application, please contact:

exhibitions@mallgalleries.com

Please Note: The above terms and conditions are provided by the exhibition organisers.

For terms and conditions which apply to the use of the OESS entry system please view below:
OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy