Brief Information
The Big Love Show Open Call 2026 is now accepting submissions. Hyde Park Art Club invites artists, writers, and creatives from around the world to take part in a group exhibition exploring love in all its forms. Opening in February 2026 in Leeds, England, this open call welcomes wall-based artworks, writing, poetry, and experimental practices for a large-scale, inclusive exhibition and accompanying publication.
The Big Love Show Open Call 2026 is a free, international open call curated by artist and writer George Storm Fletcher in collaboration with Hyde Park Art Club. The exhibition will run from February to April 2026 at Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds, UK.
The call is open to all creatives, regardless of background or formal education, and celebrates love in its expanded, unexpected, and deeply personal forms. The submission deadline is 8 January 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Key Dates & Details
- Submission Deadline: 8 January 2026 (11:59 pm)
- Exhibition Dates: 10 February – 10 April 2026
- Opening / Book Launch: 15 February 2026 (date to be confirmed)
- Location: Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, England, UK
- Type: On-site group exhibition
- Participation Fee: Free
- Selected Artists: 14 exhibiting artists + additional artists in a publication
- Curator: George Storm Fletcher
- Organiser: Hyde Park Art Club
Table of Contents
Overview
The Big Love Show Open Call 2026 is an open invitation to explore love in its widest sense. The exhibition seeks works that are mushy, tender, obsessive, humorous, intimate, awkward, or impossibly abstract. Love here is not limited to romance but extends to friendships, places, objects, food, strangers, memories, and fleeting fixations.
Submissions may include drawings, paintings, photographs, collages, prints, letters, poems, writing, polaroids, light-based works, and other wall-mounted expressions. Both new and existing works are welcome, including sketches, unfinished pieces, and experimental formats.
Selected works will be exhibited at Hyde Park Book Club, a non-traditional arts venue with high daily footfall, offering strong visibility and audience engagement. In addition to the physical exhibition, selected contributors will be featured in The Big Love Book, a coffee-table publication documenting the project, with writing and spoken word works primarily presented through the book and online platforms.
Hyde Park Art Club is an independent grassroots curatorial platform known for presenting high-quality contemporary art in accessible, community-focused spaces and encouraging experimentation, inclusion, and artistic risk-taking.
Eligibility
The The Big Love Show Open Call 2026 is open to creatives worldwide.
You are eligible to apply if:
- You are an artist, writer, poet, or creative practitioner
- You have no formal art education or prior exhibition experience
- You work in 2D or wall-based formats
- You are able to make your work available for display in Leeds during the exhibition period
The organisers actively encourage applications from global majority, queer, and disabled artists. This is an inclusive and accessible opportunity open to all.
Application Details
Applicants may submit:
- Up to 2 artworks, texts, or pieces per artist
- Any number of images to document each submission
- Writing, poetry, and experimental prose (especially encouraged)
Accepted Formats
- Wall-based and 2D artworks
- Light-based works (no audio required)
- Writing, essays, poetry, spoken word (for publication and online)
Not Accepted
- Freestanding sculptures
- Audio-visual works requiring sound
There is no minimum or maximum size limit. Both small and large works are encouraged. Submissions must not use expiring links.
Selected artists will be notified after 10 January 2026, and works must be delivered no later than 3 February 2026. The exhibition is unpaid, but participation does not involve hidden costs. Artists are responsible for shipping, and artworks cannot be insured by the organisers.
Who can apply to The Big Love Show Open Call 2026?
Anyone can apply. No formal qualifications or prior exhibitions are required.
How many works can I submit?
Each artist may submit up to two works or texts.
Are artworks for sale?
The exhibition itself is non-commercial, but organisers may connect interested buyers directly with artists.
Do I need to be present during the exhibition?
No. There are no requirements for invigilation or installation attendance.
How are proposals selected?
A panel of artists and curators, including the exhibition curator and Hyde Park Art Club steering group, will select the final works.
Official Link
To make a submission or contact the curator, please visit the official opportunity page:
https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/the-big-love-show/10186
For more information about Hyde Park Art Club and their mission, you may also explore:
https://www.hydeparkartclub.co.uk
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