THE LIDO OPEN 2024
We are delighted to announce the next open call at The Lido Stores is now live! The deadline to submit your work is the 2nd June 2024.
The Lido Open is aimed at supporting artists in Ireland and the UK by showcasing the very best in contemporary art with a first prize of a solo presentation in 2025 to take place at The Lido Stores Gallery in Margate, Kent. All shortlisted work will be exhibited at The Lido Stores Gallery for three weeks, from 18 September to 5 October 2024.
Shortlisted artists and the prize winner will be selected by artist Vincent Hawkins and gallery owner Kristen Healy. The winner will be announced at a private view on Saturday 21 September 2024.
This is the fourth Lido open call with over 700 submissions from across the UK and Ireland being received in 2023.
Open call details
● Submissions of original artworks in painting, drawing, printmaking or collage only.
● Works to measure no more than 40cm in any direction, including frame.
● Entry is free with a £30 participation fee for shortlisted artists.
● Transport of work to and from the gallery is the artist's responsibility.
● All works must be for sale with The Lido Stores taking a 40% commission on sales.
● The Lido stores will cover shipping costs of sold artwork only.
● Please do not apply if you have had a solo exhibition at The Lido Stores gallery within the last two years. The Lido Open is committed to showcasing work new to the gallery.
Submission process
● Submissions are accepted by email to thelidostores@gmail.com, include:
● A brief biography (CV) and artist statement (PDF or Word Docx only)
● Up to three complete images each under 5MB (JPG or PDF)
● Each file to be named in the format: Artist_Name_Artwork_Title_Width_Height_Depth(CM)_Medium_Year_Price
● Closing date for submissions is 11.59pm Sunday 2 June 2024
Key dates
● Online applications submitted by 11.59pm Sunday 2 June 2024
● Selection of shortlisted artists announced by 14 July 2024
● Delivery of works (selected days) between 28 August – 7 September 2024
● Exhibition runs 18 September – 5 October 2024
● Private view and prize winner announced Saturday 21 September 2024
● Submissions are via email and mediums eligible for submission include Drawing, Painting, Collage and Print with the deadline for submissions at 23.59 GMT on 2 June 2024 are delighted to announce below the artists shortlisted for the third annual Lido Open by guest judge Vincent Hawkins and Lido Stores owner Kristen Healy.
Good luck with your submissions - we can’t wait to see your work!
About The Lido Stores
The Lido Stores is a contemporary gallery opposite the iconic Margate Lido obelisk. The gallery is situated in the old Lido Stores shop and Post Office which was formerly run by the father of gallery owner Kristen Healy.
The Lido Stores seeks to create an accessible programme of solo and group exhibitions showcasing emerging and mid-career contemporary artists. The gallery focuses on small works that are affordable, ensuring artists receive a fair price and that collecting unique contemporary art is accessible to everyone.
Artists are invited to submit proposals to exhibit for three weeks. For more information please head to www.thelidostores.com.
About guest judge Vincent Hawkins
We are delighted to announce Vincent Hawkins as the guest judge of the Lido Open 2024.
Vincent Hawkins (born 1959, UK) is a visual artist, who has shown extensively in Britain and abroad with solo exhibitions in Chicago, London and Paris, and has exhibited in group shows in France, Italy, the UK and USA. Among his accolades are shortlisting for the Jerwood Drawing Prize (2006), being a finalist in the John Moores Painting Prize (2012) and John Moore’s 24 (2006). Hawkins exhibits with Sid Motion Gallery, London, and has recently joined the cadre of artists operating from Tracey Emin’s TKE Studios in Margate.
Hawkins embraces diversity in his creative processes. Primarily a painter working in oil and acrylic on wood, canvas and paper, he describes ‘play’ as a crucial component in his practice and favours working in a range of approaches, often incorporating different mediums in an installation, and refusing to exclude one area of his practice for another. Hawkins and Lido Stores owner Kristen Healy encourage Lido Open 2024 entrants to keep this mantra of ‘play’ in mind when selecting works for submission.
“It is of no real surprise, with its creative history, that Margate has been taking a new lead in art appreciation in this corner of the UK in recent times”, he says. “To see the town energised with such creativity and positivity over recent years cannot fail to help one feel optimistic. The Lido Open has played a big role in that too as it provides opportunity to show case and then reward one fortunate artist with a solo show. I am thrilled and very grateful to have been invited to be this year’s guest judge. Big shoes to fill by the standards of the previous judges, but I am looking forward to seeing the variety, depth and breadth of entries for this year.”