Royal Ulster Academy of Arts

145th RUA Annual Exhibition – Call for Entries 2026

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY

No refunds can be issued once payment has been made.

 

The 145th RUA Annual Exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, from October 2026 to January 2027, subject to confirmation.

Eligibility

  • Open to artists aged 18 years and over

  • Eligible media: painting, drawing, original prints, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and craft

  • Work must have been created between 2024 and 2026

  • Work previously exhibited in Northern Ireland will not be accepted

  • All submitted work must be for sale and suitably prepared for display

  • The RUA reserves the right to reject work believed to infringe copyright

  • Artworks incorporating organic materials must be suitably treated to meet museum conservation standards

  • The 145th RUA Annual Exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, from October 2026 to January 2027, subject to confirmation.

    Eligibility

    • Open to artists aged 18 years and over

    • Eligible media: painting, drawing, original prints, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and craft

    • Work must have been created between 2024 and 2026

    • Work previously exhibited in Northern Ireland will not be accepted

    • All submitted work must be for sale and suitably prepared for display

    • The RUA reserves the right to reject work believed to infringe copyright

    • Artworks incorporating organic materials must be suitably treated to meet museum conservation standards

    • Prints

      • Entries must be original works of art

      • Original printmaking processes (e.g. etching, lithography, screen printing) are admissible

      • Reproductions, including giclée prints or digital reproductions of other works, are not permitted

      • Submission Process & Key Dates

        Online Submission Period

        • Opens: Sunday, 1 March 2026

        • Deadline: Monday, 13 July 2026 (midnight)

        ⚠️ Important: Submission at this stage is digital only.
        Physical delivery of artworks is permitted only for artists shortlisted following Stage 1 selection.

      • Stage 1 – Digital Pre-Selection

        • Completed: Tuesday, 21 July 2026

        • Artists must log in to their account to view pre-selection notifications

        Delivery for Physical Selection

        (Stage 2 – Shortlisted Artists Only)

        Delivery of artworks for physical selection is strictly limited to artists whose work has been successful at Stage 1 (digital pre-selection).

        Artists must not deliver work unless they have received explicit confirmation of Stage 1 selection via their online account or direct communication from the RUA.

      • Belfast Delivery (Stage 2 Only)

        • Date: Sunday, 2 August 2026

        • Location: Operational Belfast address (to be confirmed)

        Full delivery details, including address, access instructions, and time slots, will be issued directly to shortlisted artists.

        All hanging attachments must be removed from artworks prior to delivery.

      •  

        Belfast Delivery (Stage 2 Only)

        • Date: Sunday, 2 August 2026

        • Location: Operational Belfast address (to be confirmed)

        Full delivery details, including address, access instructions, and time slots, will be issued directly to shortlisted artists.

        All hanging attachments must be removed from artworks prior to delivery.

      •  

        Final Selection

        • Completed: Monday, 10 August 2026

        • Handback of Unselected Work

          (Stage 2 Works Only)

          • Date: Sunday, 30 August 2026

          • Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm

          • Location: Operational Belfast address (to be confirmed)

          • Or by prior arrangement with the RUA

          Only works physically delivered for Stage 2 selection are eligible for handback.

        • Exhibition Details

          • Open to the Public: October 2026 – January 2027

          • Venue: Ulster Museum, Belfast (subject to confirmation)

          • Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00am–5:00pm

          • Size Restrictions

            • All works must be under 2 metres in any direction, including frame

            • No minimum size limit

            • Sculptural works exceeding these dimensions may be considered but may be restricted due to weight or installation requirements

            • Delivery & Collection

              • Artists are responsible for delivery and collection of their work

              • Packaging must be removed after delivery and returned at collection

              • The RUA cannot store packaging materials

              • Work not collected on designated days may be subject to a storage charge

              • Postal submissions are strongly discouraged

              • The RUA accepts no liability for damage during transit or handling

              • The RUA does not pack or label works for courier return

              • Return by post or courier can be arranged at the artist’s cost

              • Entry Pricing

                • First / Single Entry: £20

                • Up to 2 artworks: £35

                • Up to 3 artworks: £50

                Maximum of three artworks per applicant.

              • Image Submissions

                • Format: JPG or PNG

                • Maximum file size: 5MB per image

                • Pricing & Sales

                  • All selected works must be for sale

                  • A 30% commission will be charged by the RUA

                  • VAT must be included where applicable

                  • Minimum artwork price: £200

                  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

                    Artists using artificial intelligence tools must comply with the RUA’s AI Usage Policy, which distinguishes between AI-assisted and AI-generated work and requires transparency in declaration.

                    RUA AI Usage Policy:
                    https://www.royalulsteracademy.org/ai-po

                  • Failure to comply may result in exclusion from selection.

                  • Insurance

                    Artists are responsible for insuring their own work. All works are submitted entirely at the artist’s risk. While every reasonable care will be taken, the RUA accepts no responsibility for loss, damage, or destruction at any stage.

                  • Conditional Disclaimer

                    All dates, venues, delivery locations, and exhibition arrangements are subject to change. The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts reserves the right to amend or substitute venues, schedules, and operational details where required. Any changes will be communicated directly to affected artists.

                  • Contact

                    Exhibition Enquiries: info@royalulsteracademy.org

                  • Proposed Venue: Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast

                  • Agreement

                    By submitting work, artists confirm and agree that:

                    • The decisions of the selectors are final and no correspondence will be entered into

                    • All information provided is accurate and complete

                    • The work submitted is the artist’s original creation and does not infringe copyright

                    • Images of submitted and selected works may be used by the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts for promotional, archival, and educational purposes

                    • Entry fees are non-refundable once payment has been made

                    • The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts reserves the right to amend exhibition arrangements, schedules, venues, and operational details where necessary

                    Framed Multiples (Photographs and Prints)

                    • Where works are produced in editions or multiples, including photographs and original prints, the exhibited work shall be regarded as the reference and exhibition copy and will be the only framed example offered for sale through the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.

                    • Any additional editions or multiples of the same work sold through the RUA will be supplied unframed, unless otherwise expressly stated by the RUA in advance.

                    • The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts does not undertake the framing of additional editions and does not include framing costs within the sale price of unframed multiples.

                    • Any framing of additional editions is a matter to be agreed privately between the artist and the purchaser and lies outside the scope of the RUA’s involvement or responsibility.

                    The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts accepts no responsibility for the specification, supply, cost, or quality of framing for editions sold unframed.

                  • OESS Platform Notice

                    These terms apply to the exhibition only.
                    For platform-specific terms, please refer to:

                    OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy