Freelands Foundation
Free to Apply
Closing: 18th March 2026
Freelands Foundation launches the seventh edition of the annual Freelands Painting Prize, celebrating outstanding painting by final-year students at UK art schools and universities. Higher Education institutions offering BA Fine Art or Painting courses are invited to nominate one final-year student from the 2025-26 academic year. Submissions must include paintings, though work operating as “painting in the expanded field” is welcome – acknowledging contemporary painting’s diverse approaches beyond traditional definitions.
An independent jury anonymously reviews all submissions, shortlisting artists to participate in an exhibition at Freelands Foundation in Autumn 2026. For the first time in 2026, the jury will also select an individual winner from the shortlisted group. In partnership with Wallace Seymour (makers of high-quality painting and drawing materials), the winning artist receives a consultation and £1,000 worth of materials – invaluable support for emerging painters developing their practice.