Open Call: Paper Year - 1st year Anniversary Exhibition

To mark its first anniversary, •nook• gallery in Kings Heath, Birmingham, is inviting submissions for a special group exhibition themed Paper Year, running from 13th to 30th June 2025. This exhibition will explore the creative potential of paper — as material, subject, process, concept, or tradition — through innovative and thoughtful work.

Artists and makers working in contemporary craft or fine art disciplines are encouraged to apply. The gallery welcomes a broad range of practices including 2D, 3D, installation, small-scale sculpture, and experimental or interdisciplinary approaches.

What •nook• is Looking For

Submissions should:

• Offer an imaginative or reflective response to the theme of Paper

• Demonstrate originality, experimentation, or a distinctive personal voice

• Be suitable for inclusion in a group exhibition

• Consider the scale, space, and context of the gallery environment

Selection Criteria

• High level of skill and craftsmanship

• Creative and conceptually strong interpretation of the theme

• Originality and depth of artistic voice

• Clarity and coherence of proposal

• Suitability for the physical gallery and group exhibition context

Both individual works and small collections will be considered. If selected, the gallery team may contact artists to discuss the most appropriate display format or participation option based on curatorial vision and spatial considerations.

Participation Options

•nook• supports both commercial and non-commercial practices. Commission is charged on sold work according to the selected participation type:

• Option 1: No hanging fee; 40% commission on any sales

• Option 2: £10 hanging fee; 25% commission on sales

• Non-commercial work: £15 flat hanging fee (no commission taken)

The gallery reserves the right to determine the most appropriate option based on the submitted work and overall exhibition fit.

This is a physical, in-person exhibition held at the •nook• gallery.

Artists are invited to help mark this milestone by sharing creative interpretations of paper — a material as simple as it is profound. Whether through technique, concept, or experimentation, Paper Year aims to showcase the diverse and inspiring possibilities of paper in contemporary making.