General Information

The Hunt Open Submission Exhibition will be held at the Hunt Museum, Customs House, Rutland Street, Limerick City from 5 December, 2025 until 28 February, 2026.   

Eligibility

Submissions of work are invited from visual artists working in the following medium painting, print, photography, drawing and sculpture. Works outside these categories are not usually accepted.

Submission Procedure

Submission is by online entry only. Please click on the link from our website and follow the instructions. There is a €15 fee per artwork submitted. Submission fee is non-refundable. The selection committee is made up of six to eight invited artists. Artworks will be judged solely on merit. The decision is final and binding, and no correspondence or feedback will be entered into under any circumstance. The work should not have been exhibited previously in Limerick with the exception of Graduate Exhibitions. If selected for exhibition, work cannot be removed from display until after the close of the exhibition.

The Hunt Museum reserves the right to reject work that it believes is in breach of copyright laws.

Reproductions of existing artworks are not eligible.

Work must be professionally presented for exhibition. All artworks must be presented with complete mechanisms for hanging for wall-mounted pieces (mirror plates or string/ wire). Exposed wet canvases or works that could cause damage to others will not be accepted under any circumstances. Work that arrives damaged or unfit for exhibition due to any material defect will automatically be deemed ineligible for exhibition.

Artwork must have been created in the past five years.

Labelling & Presentation 

Each artwork must be clearly labelled. Please ensure that the label information matches the information at the time of entry. It is important that all details are included on the form, as incomplete details will deem the entry inadmissible. All works will be checked on entry, so please make sure your information is correct.

All works handed in for exhibition must be:

• Unwrapped
• Professionally presented (needing no further work, additions or framing prior to exhibition)
• Labelled correctly
• Works that are of a delicate or fragile nature can be delivered wrapped but must be clearly marked with additional labels on the packaging. The organisers may ask that work is unwrapped.
• The utmost care will be taken of all works submitted for exhibition, however the Hunt Museum will not be liable for any damage, loss of or destruction of artworks. Artists should insure their works against all risks. All works accepted for exhibition will be transported entirely at the artists' risk. The Hunt Museum will not accept liability for loss or damage occurring during travel to the exhibition or the selection process. Works are insured when accepted to the exhibition and condition checked by the museum team.

Pricing & commission

Work selected for exhibition will be expected to be for sale except in exceptional circumstances agreed beforehand. A commission of 25% will be paid to the museum. It will be assumed that the sale price includes the cost of any frame and the commission. Please allow for these points when pricing your work. 

Prices should include VAT if applicable. If you are VAT registered, please provide a VAT number in the box provided. 

Sold work will be marked with a red dot. The Hunt Museum will not be liable for any loss arising out of the failure by a purchaser to complete a sale or the mis-marking of any sold artwork. 

The museum will collect 25% of the artwork’s price as a deposit on the sale along with the buyer’s contact information and permission to share that information with the artist. The buyer will then pay the balance to the artist prior to collection. If the balance of the purchased artwork has not been paid by the end of the exhibition, the artwork will be released back to the artist for them to complete the transaction. Fully paid for artworks will be released to the buyer.  A price for framed work for artwork with editions, e.g. photography or print, must be included for the catalogue and online sales platform. There is no unframed sales option for editions.

Photography & Copyright

The artist allows the museum to photograph the works and  to use the images of any artwork for publicity and public engagement purposes only. This includes television, print (catalogue, newspapers, trade publications), website (Hunt Museum and others), social media (Hunt Museum and others) and any other method that the organisers deems fit for purpose.

Communications

All communication will be by email or via the online login process. Applicants will be required to login to see if they have been selected and will be asked to download and print their application details to be delivered with the artwork. Failure to do so could result in work being withdrawn from the exhibition. 

Selection

The Selection Committee will select the works for the exhibition. The Selectors will consider all correctly completed submissions. The decision of the Selectors on all matters is final and no correspondence will be entered into. An email reminder will be sent to artists to check their status on the dates listed.

Insurance

Artists are responsible for insuring their own work. All works accepted for exhibition will be displayed entirely at the artists' risk.  Organisers and the museum will not accept liability for loss or damage occurring during the exhibition.

Delivery and Collection

Artists are responsible for the delivery and collection of their work at the Museum. All packaging materials must be removed after delivery (no storage is available for this) and brought back at collection. 

If you are applying from overseas, please consider how you will get your work to and from the exhibition at the required times. We will accept applications from outside the EU, however artists sending works from outside the EU are responsible for payment of any associated duties or taxes. The Hunt Museum will not be responsible for resolving any customs issues that may occur. Artists must ensure that their work reaches us on the designated days and is customs compliant. The Hunt Museum will not pay customs charges, duty or any associated charges on works arriving by courier. It is the artist’s responsibility to ensure that the work is correctly packaged, as the museum will not accept responsibility for work damaged in transit or by any third parties.

Work not collected at the stated times will be subject to a daily charge of €10 and will be disposed of after one week. 

The Hunt Museum will not undertake the wrapping, crating and packing of any artworks.

Agreement

By submitting to the exhibition you are deemed to accept and agree to the following:

• The decision of the Selectors on all matters is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• I understand that The Organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the exhibition arrangements and these Terms & Conditions as may be deemed necessary by circumstances.
• I authorise The Organisers to process, store, and utilise the data in my submission and agree that, if selected for exhibition, images of my work can be freely used by The Organisers, The museum and associated organisations for promotional and publicity purposes.
• I authorise the museum to share my contact information with the buyer.
• All information provided by me is true and accurate and that the work submitted is wholly of my own creation.
• I have read and understood these terms and conditions and by submitting this application I accept and agree to observe all the Terms And Conditions therein.

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

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 three works per artist may be selected. 

The combined total of the longest dimension of each painting accepted will not exceed 8 feet maximum per artist.

Artists must submit work that has been completed within the last three years and must not have been previously exhibited at Mall Galleries. 

Submitted artworks must not be submitted to other competitions or exhibitions taking place between 9 June and 16 December 2025.

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

All works must be an original creation by the artist.

Subject matter:

Artists may submit work on any subject matter. 

There is a special theme each year, which can be interpreted widely. For 2025, artists are encouraged to contribute a work on the theme 'HOME' - however it is not compulsory. If a work is on the theme, please say so in the artwork description box when applying. 

Acceptable media: 

Oils. The ROI promotes and exhibits work of the highest standard in oil paint.

Water-soluble oil paint is acceptable if framed as an oil, so as not to spoil the general appearance of the exhibition.

Acrylic is no longer accepted.

Submission Fee

There is a non-refundable submission fee of £20 per work, or £14 per work for artists aged 35 or under. 

The submission fee includes free admission to the exhibition (normally £5). 

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).

Presentation

Artists are encouraged to frame their work. Unframed work may be accepted if on a well-presented box canvas. 

Wide mounts between the painting and frame, as in watercolours, are not acceptable. 

Picture glass is not encouraged.

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:

Paintings should be completely dry at the time of 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 will 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 Institute. 

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.

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 £500.

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. 

International Artists:

Artists who are not resident in the UK but are resident in the EU or elsewhere are welcome to submit work. If your work is selected for the exhibition, you have a responsibility to register and account for UK VAT with H.M. Revenue & Customs. 

Artists without a UK residence, known as 'NETPs' (non-established taxable persons) can find further details on 'NETP' status and how to register for VAT at www.hmrc.gov.uk (HM Revenues & Customs Reference: Notice 700/1, Mar 2014) under the heading 'Should I be registered for VAT?'

Please note: the registration process can take up to 4 weeks. Please address any questions you may have to the VAT Helpline on tel. no. 0300 200 3700 or Outside UK: +44 2920 501 261.

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. 

By submitting your contact details, you agree to be contacted about similar activities, such as artist opportunities and open calls organised by Mall Galleries / Federation of British Artists. 

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