The WAC Awards is an international visual arts competition.

The WAC Awards is an open competition for contemporary visual art that is gaining praise and respect in Britain and abroad. It was established in 2012 by a group of artists and their friends in Wells, the beautiful cathedral city in the South-West of England. An idea that came to life around kitchen and dining tables has already established a strong presence in the London, national and international art world and is drawing artists from places as diverse as Australia, Azerbaijan, India, Italy, Korea, Japan and the United States, as well as all over UK.

This year WAC have collaborated with Cass Art to offer a very special discount to every artist that enters Wells Art Contemporary 2020!

Entry is by online submission through this website and the deadline for entry is Thursday 16 April 2020.

All entrants are asked to ensure they have read all Rules and Guidelines before entering.

All artists based in the UK or internationally, who are over the age of 18 on the 1st January 2020 are invited to apply. A third party may also submit work on the artists behalf with the full permission of the artist.

Artists may enter up to four works.

Entries can be any medium – painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, installation or video. We regret that we cannot exhibit digital work unless all necessary equipment is provided by the artist (for example: monitors, screens, DVD players, headphones etc).

There is no size restriction on work submitted.

Please note:  There is the opportunity to exhibit site-specific installations within the Cathedral and its grounds in this year’s exhibition. Further information about this opportunity can be found here: https://wac-installations.artopps.co.uk/.  Artists may enter both Wells Art Contemporary and WAC Installations.

We have collaborated with Cass Art to offer a very special discount to every artist that enters Wells Art Contemporary 2020!

Entry Fee is £15 per work or £12 per work for current students.

• RK Harrison Award:  £2,000 awarded to one artist
• JGM Gallery Exhibition Prize*:  up to 4 artists, including international artists, will be selected to take part in an exhibition in 2020 at the JGM Gallery in the heart of London’s new cultural quarter next to the Royal College of Art in London.
• NG Creative Residency*:  The NG Creative Residency Prize aims to discover and celebrate emerging and established creative talents from a variety of disciplines. The Prize Winner will receive a free two-week placement at the NG Art Creative Residency in Eygalieres, Provence. This includes board and lodging, studio space, mentorship and residency-related outings.
• Next Generation Art Prize*:  Andelli Art’s ‘Next Generation Art Prize’ recognises and supports the talents of artists of 30 years of age and under. The winner/s will be invited to participate in a two week group exhibition at the gallery in 2021, including a private view and social media support.
• Parker Harris Mentoring Prize*:  Parker Harris will give a one-to-one mentoring session covering all aspects of professional development to a selected artist.
• Chubb Bulleid People’s Prize:  £500 selected by visitors to the exhibition.

For further details on all the prizes please read the Rules and Guidelines

* Please tick the box on the Entry Form if you wish to be considered for this Prize.

The Exhibition will be held at the historic Wells Cathedral, Somerset.

The Exhibition will be open to the public: 11 July – 9 August 2020

Opening times: 9am – 4.30pm daily.

All exhibitors will be invited to the Private View on Friday 10 July 2020.

A panel of distinguished artists will form the selection panel.  We are delighted to announce that the 2020 panel are: