Freelands Painting Prize 2026

We are delighted to launch the open call for submissions to the seventh edition of the annual Freelands Painting Prize, celebrating outstanding painting by final-year students at art schools and universities across the UK.

Higher Education institutions in the UK offering either a BA Fine Art or Painting course are invited to participate by nominating one final year student from the 2025 – 26 academic year. Their work must include paintings, although we are open to submissions that operate as painting in the expanded field.

All submissions will be reviewed anonymously by an independent jury, who will shortlist a group of artists to participate in an exhibition at Freelands Foundation in Autumn 2026. For the first time this year, the jury will also select an individual winner amongst the group of shortlisted artists. We are delighted to be partnering with Wallace Seymour, makers of high-quality painting and drawing materials, who have generously agreed to provide a consultation and £1,000 worth of materials to the winning artist.