Our selector, artist Simon Periton, will be looking for innovative proposals, that will engage the audience in a broad range of experiences. The media considered include: sound, light, performance, projection and site-specific artwork in any medium.  Along with the vast potential of the Cathedral interior we also have extensive spaces outside the building in the form of the Palm Churchyard and the Camery Gardens.

Alongside selected installations a new Antony Gormley work will be exhibited on the West Front of the Cathedral. The piece will be loaned by the Artist and on display from the end of August 2021.

The same rules and conditions apply to these installations and interventions as with all other accepted artworks in relation to promotion, WAC prizes, etc. You can make as many proposals as you wish and individual or collaborative proposals can be made. Links with the Cathedral’s very long sacred history, its material fabric or its current day usage are encouraged. WAC is a vanguard project for the Cathedral’s developing strategy of social and secular engagement. This openness extends to and beyond the local community towards national and international engagement. Beyond Simon’s selection and the specific placement of the work there are also considerations of access, health and safety and the content and context of the art piece set within this place of worship.

Beyond the sites we employed 2019 new innovative spaces outside and within the Cathedral will be considered. Please email robin.sewell@mac.com to discuss your thoughts on where your work may be sited. It may be that you cannot locate a site but we are here to help you with that.

The selected artists will install the works, in accordance with the Cathedrals health and safety regulations, therefore we highly recommend applicants visit the Cathedral and familiarise themselves with the spaces on offer.

Following the initial selection shortlisted artists will be invited to attend a meeting with the curatorial team to discuss their installation requirements and proposed location. Artists will be invited to Wells Cathedral to meet the team on either Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th June.

Entry Fee is £15 per work or £12 for students. The competition is open to all artists aged 18 and over based in the UK or internationally.

Deadline for entry is 25 May 2021 and submission is via online entry only.

Please submit the following via the online application form:

• An image of your installation
• Text to provide us with a clear and comprehensive description of what you are proposing. (300 words max)
• How long you expect it will take to install and take down the work? (50 words max)
• Which site/s in the Cathedral would be your preferred site? Please click here to download a guide to all available sites.
• Provide a brief statement: 50 to 100 words specifically about the proposed work that will be a guide to the public if your work is shown
• Links to your website or Instagram or video work online that supports your application.