Black Shuck Festival 2026 Art Exhibition

East Anglian Folk Tales

30th July – 8th August 2026, The Broad Street Gallery, Bungay

Open Call Guidelines

As part of the 2026 Black Shuck Festival in Bungay, Suffolk (which runs 31st July – 2nd August 2026), artists are invited to submit an artwork for an Open Call Exhibition. The exhibition will be selected and curated by The Black Shuck Festival team.

Theme

The theme of the exhibition is East Anglian Folk Tales. This includes folklore, legends, histories, and stories specifically connected with East Anglia. Only artworks related to this theme will be exhibited.

Suggested narratives include:

  • Black Shuck
  • Bungay ghost stories
  • The Legend of King Edmund and the Wolf
  • The Great Fire of Bungay

Participants are encouraged to research and explore more obscure tales connected to the region.

Submission Details

  • Open to all artists aged 18 and over.
  • Shortlisted works will be exhibited at The Broad Street Gallery, Bungay, from Thursday 30th July to 8th August.
  • All works must be for sale.
  • A 30% commission will be taken by the Gallery on all sales.
  • Artists are responsible for insurance of their own work.

Accepted Media

  • Photography
  • Painting
  • Printmaking
  • Drawing
  • Illustration
  • Wall-mounted 3-D work / sculptures
  • Free-standing or wall-mounted sculptures

Due to the new venue, we regret that we cannot accept 3D work this year unless it can be wall-mounted or is free-standing (i.e. on the floor).

A.I. images WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Key Dates

  • Submission Deadline: Midnight, 6th July 2026
  • Notification of Selection: Successful artists will be notified by email by 5pm on 16th July 2026. If you have not received an email by this date, we regret that your work has not been selected this year.
  • Delivery of Selected Works:
    • Saturday 25th July, 5pm – 6pm
    • Sunday 26th July, 10am – 12 noon
  • Preview Evening: Thursday 30th July 2026, 6pm, The Broad Street Gallery
  • Collection of Artwork: Saturday 8th August, 12 noon – 5pm

Uncollected work cannot be stored by the gallery. Artists must make their own arrangements if they cannot collect artwork on the date requested. If you cannot work to these dates we regret that you will not be able to be included in the exhibition.

If you have sold artwork or prints you will be contacted by email with details of sales and a request to provide bank details so that any sums due can be paid promptly.

How to Submit

  • Send an image of your entry as an attachment (max file size: 5MB)
  • Include YOUR NAME in the file name
  • Please include a short explanation of your chosen folklore
  • Email exhibition@blackshuckfestival.com
  • Maximum of ONE submission per artist

Include in your email

  • Your name, email address, and phone number
  • Title of the work
  • Media
  • Size
    • 2D: max 1.5m x 1.5m
    • 3D: max 1.5m x 1.5m x 1m
  • Price (including 30% commission)
  • All work must be framed and ready to hang with D-rings
  • If framed art is selected, additional unframed print copies may be submitted (wrapped, mounted, or backed) for display in print cradles

Any art that is sold will be requested to stay in the exhibition until after the end of the festival (Monday 3rd August). Prints can be taken at any time.

For further information, contact:
exhibition@blackshuckfestival.com