Annual Open Submission
Exhibition 2026
Here & Now
Small Squares, Big Presence
Submissions deadline: Wednesday 1st July | 5pm
Curated by Owen de Forge
“Our present will become the past of other men and women.”
Eavan Boland, Object Lessons: The Life of the Woman and the Poet in Our Time (1995)
This year’s Open Call invites artists to respond to the theme of Presence through work created in a foot-square (30 × 30 cm) format.
Artists are encouraged to use unframed canvas or board, with careful attention to the edges as part of the finished piece. If your work requires framing due to its fragility, the final outer dimensions must remain 30 × 30 cm.
Part of this year’s Visual Arts Trail, Presence brings a playful sense of discovery—inviting audiences to notice how we shape and inhabit our surroundings, and the traces we leave behind. Blending echoes of history with everyday life and imagined futures, the trail offers a curious exploration of memory, ecology, and imagination.
Standard 30 × 30 cm canvases are widely available from Irish art suppliers such as Art & Hobby, Evans Art Supplies, Art Materials.ie, occasional alternatives may appear in discount stores.
Exhibition | 31 July- 6 August 2026
Launch 31 July
We are very pleased to announce that one of the selected artists will be awarded a solo exhibition in 2027
More details to follow
OUTDOOR WORKS
Open Call Outdoor Arts Trail 2026
Closing date June 6th
We are delighted to invite submissions for temporary outdoor works as part of the 2026 Arts Trail.
Artists are encouraged to propose pieces that engage with the public realm in creative and accessible ways. While works placed at street level must be durable and suitable for outdoor display, we also have two secure outdoor venues available for more delicate or valuable installations.
We particularly welcome proposals for works that can be installed at height, such as hanging textiles, lightweight sculptural pieces, or suspended installations, offering new perspectives and visual interest throughout the trail.
Selected artists will receive an artist fee of €100 and will be included in an Open Call opportunity for a solo exhibition in 2027.
If you cannot access the form please email details of your submission to birrvintageweekarts@gmail.com
About the Curator
Owen de Forge is a Dublin based artist originally from Birr, whose work is gaining recognition across Ireland. He has been selected twice for the Hennessy Craig Award Exhibition at the RHA (2022 and 2026), which recognises exceptional talent among painters under the age of 35. with solo shows at Garter Lane Arts Centre (2026) and The Dean Art Studios (2023). His involvement reflects a commitment to supporting connections with artists from the Midlands and highlighting the potential for artists from smaller towns to succeed.
De Forge’s multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, documentary photography, and drawing, exploring themes of community, perception, ecology, and the subconscious
