FAQs

Entrants must have been born or currently live in the North of England.

As county boundaries change, we define this as anywhere which has ever been in the counties of Cheshire (2022 entries) Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

We also accept artists who have graduated with a BA or MA in an art-based subject from a college or university based in the North of England.

As long as you were born or gained an arts-based degree in the North of England, you may enter.

As long as you meet our geographical criteria, you may enter.

In order to enter the 2023-24 Prize Exhibition, You must be over 18 years of age on 31st August 2022. (We aim to open for entries from 1st September 2022) There is no upper age limit.

No, artists at any stage of their career may enter.

Entry is through the online form (unavailable until we open for entries). Entrants must register first. Once registration has been approved, artworks can be uploaded. Entry fees will be taken by Stripe, a secure online payment system.

The online entry form will ask for all the information we need. Please ensure you fill out this form fully.

£20 for the first/one artwork, £40 for two and then £10 per subsequent work.

There is no limit to the number of artworks you can enter. However, please be aware that a maximum of 3 works per artist will be shortlisted.

The entry fees are the same for all. Please do contact us if you have any questions regarding entry fees.

Only original (including printmaking) works are acceptable. The works must static and be capable of being wall-hung without requiring any power source. There is no maximum size for two-dimensional work, but three-dimensional work cannot exceed a depth of 30cm. Digital processes are allowed. Photography is excluded.

There is currently no size limit on each artwork. However, please bear in mind the practicalities of the artwork hanging in an exhibition space.

All images should be at least 300dpi but with a maximum file size of 2MB saved as a JPEG. Software packages are freely available that will allow you to alter the size of each image.

Each image file must be named with your surname, first name and brief title, e.g. SmithJohn_Title.jpeg. Where work titles are too long, a section of your title would be adequate as long as it allows us to differentiate it from other works you have submitted.

Check that each of your image files are 3MB or less and that they are saved as a JPEG. If you still encounter problems, please contact us.

All measurements should be taken without the mount and/ or frame.

No, only works produced within the last 3 years are acceptable.

We encourage everybody to enter and pay online as it is much faster and more secure. Please contact us if you are having difficulties with online payment.

You will be notified by email in early Spring 2023. This will include instructions for when you need to deliver your work to the launch gallery.

All prizewinners will be announced at the Preview of the Prize Exhibition shortly after the judges have made their decisions.

Sold works will remain hung until the end of the exhibition at that particular venue. If your work is sold, you will be asked to supply images of similar artwork from which New Light can select a replacement for the further touring exhibitions. If New Light feels a comparable work is not available, the sold work will not be replaced for the subsequent legs of the exhibition tour.

If your artwork is unsold, New Light will transport the work to the touring venues.

You will need to collect any unsold works from the final gallery at the end of the exhibition tour or arrange collection from New Light. We will liaise with you nearer the time to organise dates for collection from the gallery or New Light. A courier service can be arranged at the artists’ expense. Work not collected will be liable to a storage charge.

All artists selected for the Prize Exhibition will be represented at the Bankside Gallery.

Depending on the size of your selected work, you may be asked to supply a smaller piece for this particular exhibition. If you have more than one work accepted for the Prize Exhibition, we reserve the right to select a smaller number for the Bankside Gallery leg of the tour.

New Light does not insure your work. The individual galleries might provide some cover, but we recommend that you provide your own insurance if you are concerned.

Artists will ALWAYS receive 50% of the listed price for artwork sold (as set out in the entry criteria). New Light and the gallery split the remaining 50%, typically 25% each.

New Light is absolutely dependent on income from commission on sales of artwork, entry fees and donations to continue to fund the Prize Exhibition, the tour and our Art for All programme.