eighthwonder 2019
Call for entries to 44AD’s Open Summer exhibition
44AD is delighted to be collaborating with curator Nina Jesih throughout eighthwonder 2019.
The theme for this year's exhibition is Muse
“The muses are ghosts, and sometimes they come uninvited.” – Stephen King, Bag of Bones
Gracing the walls of gallery spaces, offices and households, typically it is the finished artwork that engages the audience. However, what is it that comes before that?
Since ancient times, artists have spoken about their need for inspiration, to find the spark that stokes their creative flame.
But who or what sparks artists today?
What is your inspiration? How do you start your creative process? What is your muse?
To be presented as a finished artwork, this open call invites you to express your influences and motivations - and to show the world what it is that inspires you. In turn, you could become the muse that inspires visitors to respond creatively, perhaps producing their own artwork.
Artwork submission criteria:
The theme for eighthwonder 2019 is Muse
All artwork mediums are accepted including performance, film and sound installation.
2D work
All 2D artwork submissions are to be A2 format (42 cms x 59.4 cms). Painting, photography, printing... all mediums are accepted.
If the artwork is framed, the size of the frame must be the A2 size requirement, (therefore the artwork itself can be smaller). All artwork accepted must be ready to hang on submission.
3D work
All 3D work submissions are to work around the volume of A2 x A2 x A2.
Please include a sentence/paragraph which describes how you interpreted the theme/ the background story behind your work
Please email a digital image of your entry (accompanied with your explanation text) to
It is important that you include your full name and medium of the work/s with your email. The entry limit for eighthwonder 2019 is four works per individual.
Please note that there is no fee to submit entries, but there will be a gallery fee for each artwork accepted into the show.
1 x artwork = £10. 2 x artworks = £15. 3 x artworks = £20. 4 x artworks = £25.
This is to be payable by cash or cheque to 44AD when accepted work is brought to the gallery for hand in.
Work can be made available for sale, with 20% sales commission going towards 44AD artspace.
There will be a gallery supervision rota drawn up and it would be helpful if exhibiting artists could volunteer a 3 hour shift during the exhibition (Wifi is available in the gallery).
Some dates to remember...
• Deadline for all submissions is Sun 21st July 2019.
• Accepted exhibitors will be contacted by Weds 24th July 2019.
• Accepted artwork is to be brought to 44AD artspace on Sun 4th August 2019 (4pm-5pm).
• eighthwonder 2019 Private View will be held on Thurs 8th Aug 2019 (6pm - 8pm).
• Expect music, entertainment and more!
• eighthwonder 2019 will run from 9th - 17th Aug 2019, and your work will be available to pick up on the last day, Sat 17th Aug at 4pm.
eighthwonder 2019 artprize
Following previous year’s successes, 44AD artspace will again be awarding the eighthwonder artprize, which is voted for by the visiting public.
Prizes will include a one week solo show at 44AD artspace and Freedom of the City (in art-form)!!
'For emerging artists an experience like this is to be cherished. The eighthwonder prize provided me with the support and opportunity to successfully show and sell my work, in a unique space, to a larger audience - at a time when this option simply wasn't available for me.’
Daniel Rushforth, eighthwonder 2013
‘My submission was lucky enough to be voted the public’s favourite in 2014 so winning me ‘the artistic freedom of the city’ and a solo exhibition in the Basement Gallery. This gave me an opportunity to show a wider range of my work and helped gain me commissions.’
Jeni Wood, eighthwonder 2014
Many thanks to Charlie Wayne for permission to use ‘Monroe’ for eighthwonder 2019 poster and marketing. You can find out more about his art here:
