Southwark Cathedral is looking for artists with a strong community connection to submit art for a new exhibition programme.
Applications close on Sunday 18 October for any artist who connects their work to the Diocese of Southwark, which covers areas of south London and east Surrey.
The Reverend Michael Rawson, subdean and canon pastor at Southwark Cathedral, said: “Southwark is home. It’s a really diverse, open, and warm community where people are looking out for one another.
“We all come from different backgrounds, religions, and outlooks on life, and yet we’re bound together in this beautiful neighbourhood.”
The exhibition aims to strengthen community connections and give emerging artists opportunities to showcase their work.
The cathedral’s head of engagement, Katie Beanland, said: “We hope that this is going to be able to support emerging new artists that might not have that opportunity.
“We want to be able to support the local area, and we think that’ll be really nice and helpful for the community.”
The only requirements for artists is they must submit work suitable for wall hanging that connect in some way to the diocese.
Beanland said: “We want people to take the opportunity to express themselves, show their creativity, and show that connection.
“My advice is go for it, and don’t be afraid if you’re a beginner, you’re new, or if you think that you’ve got a slightly different media or artistic practice.
“We want to be able to showcase these different styles that represent our diverse and busy diocese.”
The cathedral is welcoming proposals for existing bodies of work, new exhibition ideas and work responding to a theme, place or aspect of community life.
Rawson said: “I think that the wider community will feel more engaged with the cathedral through this art exhibition.
“We’ve been through quite a lot over the last few years, and it’s really brought the community together.”
The exhibition programme launches in January 2027, with each exhibition running for six weeks. Artists can display their work for free in the cathedral’s café.
The programme is open to individual artists and collaborative exhibitions. The cathedral can help arrange sales of exhibited work, taking a small commission on anything sold.
Artists can find more information and submit work through Southwark Cathedral’s Arts and Exhibitions page.
Featured image credit: Southwark Cathedral
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