Holt Art Awards – Shortlist Exhibition

The Holt Art Awards are an international open art competition run by Holt Art Projects in North Norfolk and receive hundreds of submissions from around the world for their seven awards listed below. Short-listed artists are publicly exhibited in St Andrew the Apostle church in Holt and Allen Hall Gallery/Plastic Culture in Glandford during the judging period. The artworks of the artists short-listed for the Mannington Nature Award artists will then see their work moved to Mannington Hall for a public exhibition taking place during the months of August and September.

Sir John Hurt Art Award — the original Holt Festival open prize, across all genres, renamed in honour of the actor and artist Sir John Hurt. Mannington Nature Award — new for 2026, sponsored by the Ellis family: artists' responses to landscape and the environment in any medium. Charlotte Fraser Ceramics & Glass Award — innovative, technically complex work in ceramics and glass. Helen Herbert Portrait Award — new for 2026, in memory of the artist Helen Herbert: portraiture and what lies beneath the surface. Benjamin Hall Photography Award — new for 2026, sponsored by the war correspondent Benjamin Hall: photography as a way of seeing and recording people, places and events. Sworders Emerging Artist Award — supporting emerging artists (aged 19–23) in developing their creative voice. Sworders Young Artist Award — supporting young artists (aged 15–18) in developing their creative voice.

N.B. The address in the listing is for St. Andrew's church in Holt. The address for Allen Hall Gallery is The Barns, Glandford, Holt NR25 7JP.