CMAF and Oexmann Exhibitions - open for entries in September

A chance to enter your art into two major local art exhibitions

​2024 is the 50th anniversary of the annual Calne Music and Arts Festival (CMAF), taking place from 4-13 October.

An open art exhibition, held at Marden House, forms a key part of the Festival each year, which aims to promote local musical and artistic talent as well as providing entertainment for the people of Calne and surrounding villages and towns. 

​40th anniversary of the demolition of the Harris factory, Calne
​This year is also the 40th anniversary of the demolition of the C&T Harris bacon factory, which dominated Calne's town centre for many years and was its biggest employer. To mark this anniversary the Festival is holding a community art project, inviting people to buy and decorate one of 500 papier mache pigs. This has been under way all summer, creating a great deal of engagement from people and some impressively themed and painted piglets. A selection of the piglets will be included in an exhibition at the Calne Heritage Centre throughout October, alongside exhibits charting the history of the factory and what it was like to work there. 

CMAF art exhibition - key submission dates and information

• Artists can enter up to three art pieces each, either framed/canvas (ready to hang), 3D or a combination of both. All entries must be original work.
• Cord must be strung on the back of the frame.
• The entry fee is £5 per artwork, payable on the art hand-in day (see below).
• Artists can enter online, from now to 5pm on 26 September 2024, using the form on the CMAF website. You can find more information here including a link to the form.
• Hand-in day for art is Saturday 28 September, between 10am and 2pm, at Marden House. Allow at least 30 minutes to queue and process your artwork.
• Artworks sold during the exhibition will be subject to a 15% commission fee.
• Art exhibited must be collected (if it hasn't sold) on Sunday 13 October between 11 and 1pm only. Note there is no facility to story uncollected art after this time.

Oexmann Art Award & Exhibition, Devizes

Held every two years, the main purpose of this event is to encourage and promote Wiltshire artists - who are born or live in the county. Wiltshire Museum organises and holds the exhibition in Devizes home, which includes selected entries and is open to the public from 19 October to 23 November, 2024.

Key facts

• Any subject matter will be accepted but artwork for the adult category must be 2D i.e. painting, drawing, collage and printmaking but not computer generated.
• Picture size for adult category: must not exceed 80cm x 60cm (landscape or portrait), without exception due to limited gallery space.
• Entry fees for adults (over 25 years'' old): £3.50 per picture submitted.
• Maximum of three entries per artist.
• Art hand-in/delivery of entries: from Monday 23 September to Saturday 28 September, 10am to 5pm daily. There is an entry form that you must complete, print and take with you when you hand in your art submissions.
• There is a competition element and judging takes place on Wednesday 2 October.
• More information about the competition and exhibition, including entry forms, are available on the Wiltshire Musuem website.
• Alternatively, you can contact Heather Ault, on 01380 727369 or by email at oexmann@wiltshiremuseum.org.uk