Fellows and Members Open Art Exhibition: Celebrating Life
The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England invites submissions of artwork for the first RCS England Fellows and Members Open Art Exhibition.
The theme is Celebrating Life. Submissions are encouraged which explore, reflect on, or respond to the idea of celebrating life in its many forms, whether through direct representation or more abstract, conceptual approaches. This open call is designed to be inclusive and flexible, to encourage a wide range of artistic interpretations.
Celebrating Life could include studies of living things, representations of the natural world, expressions of growth and change, reflections on survival and resilience, or explorations of personal experience, culture and emotion. Submissions do not need to relate directly to surgery, anatomy or medicine, and artists are encouraged not to feel constrained by the theme; diverse and unexpected interpretations are welcome.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select works for exhibition at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Lincolns Inn Fields. The selected artworks will be displayed throughout September and October 2026.
Who can apply
Members, fellows and affiliate members, of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
How to apply
Complete the Microsoft form linked below, this will include submitting photos of artwork for consideration and answering some short questions
Submission guidelines, eligibility details, and terms and conditions are listed below and should be reviewed before applying
Key dates
Deadline for submission: 31 May 2026
Exhibition: 11 September – 31 October 2026
Artwork requirements
Artworks must be complete at point of completion of Microsoft form and respond to the theme Celebrating Life
Artworks must be two-dimensional
Digital and photography artworks will not be considered for the exhibition
Submission link
General Requirements
Only work submitted by fellows, members and affiliate members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England will be considered for the exhibition.
Due to costs the Hunterian Museum is unable to support international submissions, therefore you must be based in the United Kingdom to apply.
You may submit up to two pieces of work for consideration for the exhibition. Submitted work does not need to be recently completed but all work needs to be complete at point of submission.
Artworks can be for sale; however, this is not a requirement.
Submission Requirements
All exhibition submissions must be made digitally via the Microsoft form, unless otherwise agreed with the Hunterian Museum. The application and selection process is fully online; please do not send physical artworks. Only works selected for exhibition should be sent to RCS England.
Works must be physically available for exhibition in London during September/October 2026.
Submitted works will be selected for display by a panel of invited judges, including Hunterian Museum curators. The selection panel’s decision is final. The placement of work within the exhibition will be decided by Hunterian Museum staff.
All submitted works must be able to hang flat on a wall.
Accepted media and format
Submitted artworks, in any medium, which can be hung flat on a wall.
Photography, digital media and 3D sculpture are not accepted.
Please ensure you provide a well-lit, clear image of your work in your submission. Submissions without adequate images of the works cannot be considered.
Artists are responsible for providing appropriate frames for works. The Hunterian Museum reserves the right to add temporary fixings to frames. Frames are included in any works sold.
Works that cannot be framed must include a suitable alternative for display; if selected, the Hunterian Museum will advise on appropriate options where needed.
Sales of work
The Hunterian Museum’s commission for any works sold is 60%. Price listed during submission process is taken to be inclusive of the Hunterian Museum’s commission.
For any sales of artworks, the buyer will cover any delivery costs.
Sales will be processed by the Hunterian Museum, and funds from sales of artwork will be sent to the Artist upon closure of the exhibition.
Delivery of work
All artwork chosen for the exhibition should be delivered to the Royal College of Surgeons of England within a one-week designated delivery period (late August, early September. Exact date to be confirmed).
Postage costs for delivery of works selected for the exhibition must be covered by the Artist. Postage costs of works unsold at the end of the exhibition will be covered by the Hunterian Museum.
Liability
Works are transported and displayed at the Artist’s own risk. The Hunterian will provide reasonable security measures for protection of works but cannot take responsibility for damage, loss or theft of works, either in transit or during display.
Image rights
The copyright and all other intellectual property rights to the submitted works will remain with the Artist.
The Hunterian Museum have the right to copy, photograph and/or reproduce the submitted works and/or issue copies to the public in connection with the exhibition. For example: promotional purposes, public workshops and events, and in the creation of exhibition materials. Artists will be credited.
Personal data
All personal data submitted by the Artist will be kept in accordance with the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s data protection and privacy policy
Authorship
All submitted artwork must be original and created solely by the Artist.
Disqualification
The Hunterian Museum reserves the right to disqualify any submitted work, including but not limited to instances where the Artist has failed to adhere to the above Terms and Conditions.
The completion of the submission form is to be taken as the unreserved agreement of the entire contents of the above terms and conditions, unless otherwise agreed with the Hunterian Museum.