The Pastel Society Open Call 2027

The Pastel Society Open Call 2027 invites artists from anywhere in the world to submit work in pastel and other dry media for the Society's 128th Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries in London. The theme is "Drawn To Colour", celebrating colour as subject, expression and connection. Over £5,000 in prizes and awards is available, led by the £1,000 Caran d'Ache Prize. Submissions close on 20 November 2026 at 12 noon.

The Pastel Society is one of the oldest art societies in Britain, and its annual exhibition is the main showcase for pastel in the UK. Members and non-members hang side by side, and the open call is how most new artists join the show. The exhibition runs from 27 January to 6 February 2027.

The call covers more than soft pastel. Charcoal, chalk, conté, sanguine, pencil and other dry media are all welcome, and so is mixed media or 3D work where pastel or dry media is the main material.

Who Can Apply to the Pastel Society Open Call 2027?

Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world. Works must have been completed within the two years before the exhibition and must not have been shown at Mall Galleries before.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Pastel artists working in soft, hard, oil or water-soluble pastel
• Artists who draw in charcoal, chalk, conté or pencil
• Mixed-media artists whose main material is dry media
• Artists aged 35 or under, who pay a lower fee and have their own prize

What Can You Submit?

You can submit up to six works, and up to four can be selected. Every type of pastel is accepted, along with conté, sanguine, charcoal, chalk, pencil and similar dry media. Each work needs a full description of its media and process.

Size, Framing and Price

• Maximum 2.4m along the longest side
• Works must be framed with picture glass; metal frames are not accepted
• Minimum sale price £400, including 45% commission plus VAT

Application Fees

• Standard: £22 per work
• Aged 35 or under: £14.50 per work

The fee is non-refundable and includes free admission to the exhibition.

What Do Selected Artists Receive?

• Exhibition: a place in the Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries and online
• Caran d'Ache Prize: £1,000 for the best work in the show
• Yoshimoto Prize: £1,000 for a non-member
• President's Prize: £500 for an artist aged 35 or under
• Bob Last Prize: £400
• Daler-Rowney Prize: £1,000 in materials
• Mall Galleries / FBA Award: ten free submissions to future open calls
• Further product and publication awards, plus a Visitors' Choice Award

Submission Requirements

Entries are made online through the Mall Galleries Open Exhibition Submission System. For each work you need:

• One image of the whole work (JPEG or PNG, under 5MB), plus up to two detail images
• Title, medium, size in cm, year completed and price
• An optional short description

When Will Applicants Be Notified?

Results are published in the online system on 4 December 2026 at 12 noon. Selected artists deliver their framed works to Mall Galleries on 16 January 2027.

Things to Consider

• Respond to the theme. "Drawn To Colour" favours work where colour carries the idea, but strong monochrome drawing is still welcome.
• Photograph under daylight. Pastel colours shift easily in photos; a flat, evenly lit image helps the selectors.
• Plan framing early. Glazed frames are required, so budget for framing before you enter.
• Price realistically. The £400 minimum includes commission and VAT.
• Use the under-35 rate. If you qualify, the lower fee and the President's Prize make entering more worthwhile.
• Arrange delivery. Selected works must be delivered to London in January; artists outside the UK should plan shipping or an agent.

Apply to the Open Call

Interested in applying?

Apply to the Pastel Society Open Call 2027

For the full terms, prize list and submission system, visit the official Mall Galleries website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 15, 2026