The Open – Leicester Museums

The Open Exhibition is Now Open!

Leicester Museum & Art Gallery is delighted to welcome visitors to this year’s Open Exhibition.

Explore an incredible range of work by local artists — and if something catches your eye, you can take it home. All works in the Adult category are for sale, making this the perfect chance to support Leicester’s creative community and grow your own collection.

Closing Date

Please note that the exhibition closes to the public on Friday 30 January 2026.

Unlike many of our shows, this exhibition does not stay open on Saturday. We will be taking the display down on Saturday in preparation for artwork hand-back.

Artwork Hand-Back

Hand-back will take place in Gallery 11 on:

Sunday 1 February 2026, 11:00am–3:30pm

Monday 2 February 2026, 11:00am–3:30pm

Artists with sold works do not need to attend; the museum will wrap and pass sold pieces to buyers once the exhibition is taken down.

We are unable to store uncollected artworks. If you cannot attend on the hand-back days, you must arrange for an authorised person to collect on your behalf, and email us their name in advance at openexhibition@leicester.gov.uk

Please note that collection by an authorised person is at the artist’s own risk.

Parking & Access

The museum car park remains closed due to construction works on site. Please allow extra time to park nearby. Limited street parking is available on Princess Road West and Princess Road East, with public car parks nearby at:

What is the Open?

The Open is your chance to be part of Leicester’s biggest annual celebration of creativity. If you live or study in the East Midlands and love making art — no matter your background or experience — you can submit your work for a chance to exhibit at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery. Running for over 35 years, the Open is all about showcasing the amazing talent from across our region. It’s a celebration of local art and the people who create it.

How does it work?

Each year, we accept submissions during late summer, and the exhibition launches in November / December. A panel of judges — made up of artists, curators, and community members — carefully select pieces from all the entries we receive. Painting, sculpture, textiles, prints, photography, and more — every kind of art is welcome. Selected works are displayed at Leicester’s New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, with Sponsored prizes awarded to some works.

Who can take part?

Anyone aged 5 and up who lives, works, or studies in the East Midlands can submit their artwork! This includes people from Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Northamptonshire.

Is there an age category?

Yes! To give everyone a fair chance, we have two groups:

The Open (for people aged 19 and over)
The Open: Young People’s Exhibition (for ages 5–18)

This means you’ll see a wonderful mix of creativity from every generation when you visit!

Prize Sponsors

In addition to the annual Attenborough prizes which are selected by a panel of independent judges, the following organisations and businesses have offered a selection of generous prizes. The sponsors’ prizes cover all the age categories and range from family theatre tickets and art materials to solo exhibition opportunities and mentoring sessions designed to develop new talent. We are delighted to have each of these organisations on board to bring this exciting aspect to the show.

This year’s sponsors include: