Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Art Prize and Exhibition 2026
Open Call for Artwork Entries - Deadline: 15th February 2026
The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Art Prize is a biennial competition open to all who live, work or study in the BA postcode area.
The theme for 2026 is Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion in the Commonwealth. The art prize and exhibition will take place with a launch event and an awards ceremony in the centre of Bath at 44AD artspace.
The aim of the RCS Bath Art Prize is to promote awareness of the important work of the Commonwealth and its values.
There are no entrance or gallery fees to enter the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Art Prize and Exhibition: Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion in the Commonwealth.
General Entry (18 years +)
1st Prize £300
2nd Prize £200
3rd Prize £100
Visitors Choice Prize £150
A prize giving ceremony will take place at 44AD on 8th March 2026.
Artwork submission criteria
The theme for 2026 is Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion in the Commonwealth.
The entry limit for Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion is four works per individual.
All 2D and 3D art media submissions are encouraged, including and not limited to painting, photography, printing, performance, film and sound installation.
Artworks must not exceed 100 cms x 100 cms.
All accepted artworks must be ready to hang on submission.
Framed work to be presented in either black or white frames.
All artworks on display in Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion can be made available for sale, with 30% sales commission going towards Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch and 44AD.
How to Enter
Please email digital images of your submission/s to
It is important that you include your full name and medium of the work with your email.
Successful artworks will be selected via a panel of judges.
Some dates to remember
Deadline for all submissions is Sun 15th February 2026.
Accepted exhibitors will be contacted by Wed 18th February 2026.
Accepted artwork is to be brought to 44AD artspace on Sun 1st March 2026.
Exhibition launch event will take place on Thurs 5th March 2026 (6 - 8pm).
Awards ceremony will be held on Sun 8th March 2024.
Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion in the Commonwealth exhibition will be on display 6th - 14th March
2024.
About The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch
The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District is an educational charity, working in Bath and the surrounding area to sponsor educational travel and associated projects - with the aim of promoting international understanding through the vehicle of the modern Commonwealth.
RCS Bath is a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, which is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to uphold the values of the Commonwealth Charter, promoting conflict resolution, peacemaking and democracy to improve the lives of citizens across the member states of the Commonwealth.
The modern Commonwealth was established in 1949 as an association of free and equal sovereign states which had been part of the British Empire but were now independent. There are now 54 member states, with a combined population of 2.2 billion (approximately 30% of the world's population).
The Commonwealth is an association of governments and peoples, built around shared language, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values. Unlike most other international associations, the Commonwealth works on a consensus model and membership is voluntary, predicated primarily on a country’s commitment to upholding shared values and principles, including the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Call for Artists: Enchantment, Mystery & Illusion in the Commonwealth
We invite artists to explore and create works that engage with the themes of enchantment, mystery, and illusion in the Commonwealth - here are some themes and inspiration:
Folklore & Mythology: From the ghostly legends of the Scottish Highlands to Caribbean Obeah and African spiritual traditions, folklore and myths of the Commonwealth are rich with magical realism. There are too many to list but here are some examples from across Commonwealth countries emphasising protection, wisdom, enchantment, and wonder.
United Kingdom
- Merlin (England, Wales) – The legendary wizard of King Arthur’s court, known for prophecy, shape-shifting, and illusion.
- Rhiannon (Wales - Mabinogion Mythology) – A magical and noble woman who rides a mystical horse faster than any man can catch. Her story symbolises resilience, justice, and enchantment. The Mabinogion is a collection of the earliest Welsh prose stories.
- Pwca (Welsh Puck, a Friendly Trickster) – A mischievous but generally benevolent spirit who helps if treated kindly. Similar to the Brownies of Scotland, Pwcas might clean homes or guide lost travellers.
- The Red and White Dragons (Wales) – A legend where a red dragon (symbol of Wales) and a white dragon battled underground. The red dragon’s victory was said to foretell the rise of a great Welsh leader, later linked to King Arthur’s lineage.
- The Selkies - Seal People (Scotland) – Gentle and magical beings.
- The Blue Men of the Minch (Scotland) – Playful sea spirits. Sailors believed that if they could outwit them in a rhyming contest, they would receive safe passage across treacherous waters.
- The Wishing Trees - Cloutie Trees (Scotland) – Sacred trees where people tie ribbons or cloths as offerings to spirits. These traditions continue today.
- Heather and the Fairies (Scotland) - Fairies were said to bless fields of heather, making them a sign of good luck and protection. To this day, white heather is considered a symbol of fortune and love in Scotland.
Canada
- The Ogopogo (British Columbia) – A massive, serpent-like lake monster said to dwell in Okanagan Lake, similar to Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster.
- The Great Thunderbird (Indigenous Mythology) – A powerful spirit bird that brings rain, and protects people.
- The Little People (Inuit and Cree Stories) – Tiny, magical beings who sometimes help lost travellers find their way home.
- Glooscap (Mi’kmaq Legend) – A wise and powerful legendary figure of the Wabanaki peoples who shaped the land, taught people valuable lessons, and protected them from harm.
Australia, New Zealand and Polynesian Nations
- The Min Min Lights – Mysterious, phosphorescent floating lights that appear. in the Outback.
- The Rainbow Serpent (Aboriginal Dreamtime Mythology) – A creator deity that carved out rivers and valleys, bringing life to the land.
- Tiddalik the Frog (Aboriginal Dreamtime Mythology) – A giant frog who drank all the water, but when the other animals made him laugh, he released the water and restored balance to the land.
- Daramulum (Sky Spirit, Aboriginal Mythology) – A protector who watches over people and connects them to the stars.
- Rongo (Māori God of Peace & Cultivation) – A deity associated with food, growth, and harmony, bringing abundance to people.
- Māui (Māori) – Polynesian demigod Māui used his cleverness and magic to slow down the sun, giving people longer daylight to live and work.
- Pania of the Reef – A beautiful sea spirit who fell in love with a human, and is still said to protect the waters around Napier.
India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
- Maya (Hindu Mythology) - The Goddess of Illusion is the personification of reality-bending magic.
- Ganesha (Hindu Mythology) – The elephant-headed god of wisdom, success, and remover of obstacles, widely loved for his kindness and guidance.
- Akbar & Birbal (Historical-Folklore Blend) – Stories of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his clever minister Birbal, teaching wisdom, justice, and wit.
- Kamadhenu (The Wishing Cow) – A divine cow that grants prosperity and nourishes the earth.
- Yakshas & Yakshinis (Mystical Guardians) - Forest spirits and treasure protectors, known for both benevolence and mischief and often associated with hidden riches and magical illusions.
- Gandharvas (Celestial Musicians) Mystical beings known for their enchanting music and ability to create illusions.
- Guru Nanak’s Mystical Journeys (Udasis) - The founder of Sikhism is said to have undertaken miraculous journeys whereupon he performed mystical feats such as making a river flow backward and disappearing underwater for three days before emerging with divine wisdom.
- The Laal Pari (Red Fairy) – A mystical fairy in folklore, often associated with unseen realms and enchantment.
- Hanuman (Immortal Monkey God) - One of the most beloved figures in Hindu mythology, known for his shape-shifting abilities, flying across the ocean, and lifting an entire mountain of healing herbs to save Lakshmana.
- Jinn (Hidden Spirits) - are supernatural beings made of smokeless fire, often found in Pakistani folklore. Many villages have "Jinn wells" or "haunted ruins", believed to be inhabited by them.
- The Hoors (Heavenly Beings) – Ethereal, peaceful beings found in Islamic lore, symbolising purity and paradise.
- Nishi (Night Spirits) – Mysterious voices that call people by name in the dark, leading them into the unknown.
- The Shapla Bibi (Water Lily Fairy) – A spirit said to live among the lotus flowers, protecting rivers and bringing beauty to the world.
Caribbean
- Papa Bois (St. Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago) – A shape-shifting forest guardian St. Lucia, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago. Often called the "keeper of the forest", he is thought of as the protector of the forests and their flora and fauna.Mama D’Leau (Trinidad & Tobago) – A river spirit who protects nature and punishes those who pollute the waters.
- Mama D’Leau (Trinidad & Tobago) – A river spirit who is the protector of nature and healer of all river animals, punishing those who pollute the waters.
- Anansi as the Wise Teacher (African and Caribbean Folklore) – Sometimes a spider, a man, or a mix of both, Anansi appears in stories where he shares knowledge, wisdom, and storytelling to help people.
- The Moon and the Sun (Jamaican Folklore) – A tale of how the moon and sun were once human siblings, teaching lessons of patience and balance.
Africa
- Osun (Yoruba Goddess of Love & Rivers, Nigeria) – A kind and generous goddess who brings fertility, healing, and prosperity.
- Olokun (The Ocean Deity – Yoruba Mythology) - A god/goddess of the deep sea, wealth, and mystery who sometimes appears as a mermaid or a mysterious spirit covered in water.
- The Sankofa Bird (Ghana) – A mythical bird which looks backward while flying forward, symbolising the wisdom of learning from the past.
- Abassi & Atai (Efik Creation Myth, Nigeria) – A tale of how the first humans were given wisdom and freedom by the gods.
- Shango (The Thunder God - Yoruba Mythology) - A mighty warrior and sky god who controls thunder and lightning.
- Dimo (The Invisible Giant, Cameroon) - Said to live in the forest and guard ancient secrets. This mysterious, invisible giant in Bantu folklore can only be seen by wise elders or shamans.
Malaysia & Singapore
- Puteri Gunung Ledang (Malaysia) – A legendary fairy princess of the mountains, known for her beauty and wisdom.
- The Naga (Serpentine Guardian Spirits) – Mystical dragon-like beings that protect water sources and bring good fortune.
- The Sacred Fireflies of Kuala Selangor – Believed to be nature’s magical spirits, these glowing insects create an enchanting spectacle on the rivers.
Here are some historical and mythical figures from our very own city of Bath who embody enchantment, mystery, and illusion:
The Goddess Sulis Minerva - In Roman times, Bath was known as Aquae Sulis, named after the local goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. Sulis Minerva was believed to possess healing powers associated with the city's thermal springs. The temple dedicated to her attracted pilgrims seeking cures, blending Celtic and Roman religious practices.
King Bladud - According to legend, King Bladud founded Bath around 850 BCE. After contracting leprosy, he was banished and became a swineherd. Observing his pigs bathing in hot mud and subsequently healing from skin ailments, he emulated them and was cured. In gratitude, he established the city of Bath, harnessing its healing thermal waters.
Adelard of Bath - Known as England’s first scientist, in the 12th century, Adelard returned from his travels across Europe and the Middle East with a ‘bag of knowledge’. This included an Arabic invention called the Astrolabe, which could be used to locate planets and stars.
Mary Shelley - The renowned author of Frankenstein resided in Bath between 1816-17. During her time in the city, she completed her iconic novel, which delves into themes of creation, the supernatural, and the boundaries of scientific exploration.
The Green Man (UK wide) – Bath Abbey features numerous carvings of the Green Man, a figure from pagan folklore symbolising rebirth and the cycle of growth each spring. The presence of these enigmatic carvings within a Christian church hints at the blending of pagan and Christian traditions, adding a layer of mystique to the Abbey's history.
Oceanus Discovered in the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva, the Bath Gorgon is a stone sculpture featuring a Gorgon's head. Sometimes referred to as The Green Man, the figure has been identified as Oceanus, a Titan who ruled the Earth and God of the great, earth-encircling river, Oceanus, which was considered the source of all fresh water (rivers, wells, springs, rain clouds).
#enchantment #mystery #illusion
