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Terms and conditions

Submissions closed.

  • The Under The Surface exhibition will be open and free to enter throughout the Norfolk Makers Festival 2024

  • The dates of the 2024 Festival are Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 April.

  • The Festival is funded and organised by The Forum Trust, the independent charity which runs The Forum. 

  • This is a juried exhibition of original textile art and the competition is open to both professionals and amateurs currently residing in Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire.

  • A professional artist is defined as someone who has formal training and who earns a living from their work, as opposed to an amateur who creates textile art for pleasure rather than financial gain.

  • 3D work and all genres are accepted, including weaving, spinning, knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery, lacemaking, patchwork etc. Please note, entries should be the original work and not photographs or other reproductions.

  • Work to be submitted is to be inspired by the theme of ‘Under The Surface’. 

  • Entry forms and fees are to be submitted by midnight Friday 19 January 2024. 

  • Work needs to have been made after 1 January 2023. This is an exhibition of new and original work.

  • A maximum of two pieces of work per artist may be submitted and each will need a separate entry form and entry fee.

  • Two high resolution JPEGs should be submitted with each work.

  • These can be submitted by email, via WeTransfer/Dropbox or similar, or on a memory stick if the application is submitted by hand or post. The e-mail address is at the bottom of this page. 

  • Photos should be in focus, high resolution, no shadows, taken using daylight and not flash. The judges will need a photo of the complete work and a photo of a detail of the work. The photos must be of the work being submitted. Poor quality photos could result in your entry being rejected. 

  • Please use this link to fill out an entry form. If you need a Word Document version please email (see below).

  • The non-refundable entry fee is £10 payable by cheque or bank transfer - please use the ref Under The Surface 2024.

  • Transfers: Lloyds Bank Plc. | Sort Code: 30-96-17 | Account No: 03782900.

  • Cheques: Payable to The Forum Trust Ltd. Cheques can be delivered by hand to The Forum Customer Services, or by post to the following address: Norfolk Makers Festival, The Forum Trust, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF. 

  • If you are posting a cheque by itself please enclose a note with your name making clear it is for the Under The Surface exhibition.

  • The selectors will make their decisions in February 2024 and all applicants will be notified before the middle of March. Please note, the selectors’ decision is final and no further comment will be made. 

  • On acceptance the work will need to arrive at The Forum, Norwich, on Thursday 4 or Friday 5 April 2024. This can be by hand to the address above, or sent by post / courier.

  • The work will be professionally hung and plinths will be available for 3D work and installations. 

  • Maximum size of work is 2m x 2m. Consult with The Forum to discuss dimensions and logistics if in doubt.

  • Organisers reserve the right not to hang work if the item is not of the required standard for exhibition, or is different to the work described on the application and in the submitted photographs. 

  • A label must be attached to the back or bottom of your work with your name and the title of the work, also on all packaging. 

  • You will need to include a hanging mechanism with your work, eg rods, battens wire, etc. and instructions if needed. The Forum will work with you and use its own hanging mechanisms where necessary. 

  • Items can be for sale and there will be a commission fee of 20% payable to The Forum Trust. This commission fee will be used to fund future free events at The Forum.

  • Artists and makers will need to insure their own work.

  • Work must be collected after 5pm on Sunday 21 April and before 3pm on Tuesday 23 April. 

  • Work must be collected by the maker or their representative, with appropriate proof of ownership ie, a copy of the entry form. Please do not pick up your work without checking in with a member of Festival staff.  

  • Norfolk Makers Festival is a free event designed to encourage and inspire people to get involved in a variety of arts and crafts activity. The organisers would encourage makers whose work is selected, to demonstrate during the Festival or to hold a 'meet the maker' informal lunchtime event. 

If you have questions not answered by the information available please contact the Norfolk Makers Festival team.