The Oxfordshire Museum
Animals. Oxfordshire Museums Open Art Competition 2025
This open art competition is an opportunity for you to share your artistic skills.
On this page
About the competition
We know that Oxfordshire is full of creativity, and we want to show it off. This competition is an opportunity for you to share your artistic skills.
Taking ‘animals’ as your inspiration what artwork will you, or have you, created that would encompass the theme of animals?
The competition is free and is open to people living in Oxfordshire, aged 11 and over. The artwork must have been created after the artist's 11th birthday.
Your artwork does not need to have been created for this competition, or even created recently, but it must fulfil the theme of ‘animals’.
In the week commencing 25 August, we will contact those picked for display and arrange a date for delivery at the Museum. Fifty works will be selected for display. If selected, we will require the artwork to be delivered to the museum no later than Sunday 14 September.
Exhibition
The best pieces will be selected for a stunning and eclectic exhibition at the Museum from Saturday 27 September to Sunday 2 November. From these, three prize winners will be selected.
Selection will be done by a panel with representatives from the Museum Service and external members with relevant experience, training and qualifications in the visual arts.
What we can and cannot accept
We accept most media, but will not be able to consider anything that:
- requires electrical equipment such as audiovisual equipment or power
- needs preparation or activation by staff
- includes organic material due to pest risk
- cannot be moved by two people.
We do not mind how old it is and you do not need to create a new piece to enter, but it must have been created by you and be related to the theme.
Sculpture
We will consider sculpture. However, it must not exceed 5kg in weight, and cannot be more than 1 metre in any plane. We have limited blocks and plinths to support and display items. To be sure you can display your item in the best possible way please consider providing your own. Clear Perspex block mounts are advised. If a sculpture is chosen for display, but after delivery is considered unsafe, it will be declined. All works must be movable by no more than two people.
Wall-mounted artwork
Due to space restrictions, artwork larger than 1-metre square is unlikely to be accepted. Work must be capable of being moved by no more than two people.
Installation
Experienced Museum staff will install the works. However, they must be delivered ready to be installed. The requirement for installation is that where necessary, sculpture comes with its own stand or mount, and wall mounted artworks are prepared with suitable mirror plates.
Insurance
We cannot insure any items and will not compensate artists if any works are damaged or stolen during the exhibition.
The exhibition space is monitored by CCTV and is periodically patrolled by staff. At night it is locked with steel shutters and monitored with a security and fire alarm system.
Can I sell my artwork at the exhibition?
We cannot process sales ourselves, but we are happy to include contact details and price on your label. Details must be included with your digital application submission and any sale information provided later may not be included. If sold, artworks are not to be removed until after the exhibition concludes on Sunday 2 November 2025.
How to enter
Use this form to submit your entry by 9am, Monday 11 August 2025. No submissions will be considered after the deadline.
If the artist is aged between 11 – 17 years of age, the application must be completed by a parent or guardian
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