The 127th Annual Exhibition of Pastel Society is open for all artists

  • Award, Competition, exhibition
  • United Kingdom
  • Partial Funding Type
  • Deadline in 1 month
https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/open-calls/pastel-society
  September 15, 2025

About Opportunity

The internationally recognized Pastel Society (U.K.) is accepting submissions for its 127th Annual Exhibition in 2026, welcoming both international and local artists working with pastel, pencil, charcoal, crayon, or chalk. This exhibition celebrates the unique "direct touch" of dry media and invites works in all forms of pastel, including soft, hard, oil, ink, and water-based pastel, as well as conté, sanguine, charcoal, chalk, and pencil. Mixed media and three-dimensional works are also eligible, provided that pastel or another dry medium is the primary material. All entries will undergo a single-stage online judging process, after which selected works must be delivered to the Mall Galleries in London, U.K. Finalists will be awarded cash priz

About Organizer

The Pastel Society (U.K.), founded in 1898, is a registered charity dedicated to promoting pastel and other dry media through exhibitions, workshops, and lectures. Its annual exhibition is held at the Mall Galleries in London. The Society celebrates the “direct touch” and expressive qualities of pastel, conté, charcoal, chalk, and pencil, while supporting artists through education and professional opportunities. As a member of the Federation of British Artists, it emphasizes technical excellence, originality, and innovation.

Details

 

Eligibility:

  • Both emerging and professional artists, individually or in collectives, over the age of 18, from across the globe can participate in this exhibition

Project/event location:

  • London, U.K.

Participation fee:

  • The submission fee is £20 per work

Award/prize: 

  • Cash Prize:

    • Caran d’Ache Prize – £1,000 (best work in the exhibition as selected by Caran d’Ache)

    • Pastel Society Prize – £1,000 (best work in the exhibition selected by the Pastel Society Council)

    • The Yoshimoto Prize – £1,000 (outstanding work in any dry medium by a non-member)

    • The President’s Prize – £500 (best work by an artist aged 35 or under) 

  • Exhibition at Mall Galleries (U.K) and online

Application requirements:

  • Online application form

  • CV/portfolio

  • Artist statement

  • Artwork image (in JPEG or PNG format and under 5MB)

  • One image per submission must be submitted, showing the complete work. An optional two additional images per work may be submitted, showing details

  • Artwork description

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

The submission closes:

  • 14 November, 2025

Specifications

Opportunity Types
Award, Competition, exhibition
Event Location
United Kingdom
Deadline
14 November, 2025
Funding Type
Partial
Applicant Country
United Kingdom
Open to
Worldwide