About the exhibition

To mark Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery's centenary year, we're celebrating Stockport's creative community by holding a special Centenary Open Exhibition. This will take place from Sunday 22 June to Friday 22 August 2025.

Our artist community did not disappoint with over 200 pieces of artworks being submitted to the Centenary Open Exhibition including video, songs, textile pieces, ceramics, and lots of paintings!

You have until Thursday 7 August to vote for your favourite artwork in the people’s choice award.

The artwork will be hung in the:

  • Upper Gallery
  • East and West Galleries
  • Artlink

Prizes

We're proud to be working in partnership with SAS Daniels who are kindly providing the prizes in this year's Open Exhibition.

Adult prizes:

  • first place, £150
  • second place, £100
  • third place, £75

Younger person prizes:

  • first place, £150
  • second place, £100
  • third place, £75

The Michael Hartley-Rose Young Person’s Award

This award is presented by Stockport Art Guild to a Young Artist aged between 17 and 25. Michael Hartley-Rose was a vital member of Stockport Art Guild and it is the wish of his family to promote young artists and Stockport Art Guild in his memory.

All prizes and awards will be presented at the People’s Choice Award event at the gallery on Saturday 9 August 2025 at 3pm, by the Mayor of Stockport.

The winners will be asked to complete a consent form and asked to agree to the publication of their name in Stockport Council marketing and for their photographs to be taken and used in future promotions.

The prizes are non-transferable and there is no alternative to the prize offered. The People’s Choice Award decisions will be final and binding, and no discussion will be entered into.

Key dates for your diary

Preview date for artists and guests

Saturday 21 June, 1pm to 4pm

Exhibition dates

Sunday 22 June to Friday 22 August

Opening Hours

Thursday and Friday: 1pm to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 11am to 4pm

People’s Choice Awards

Saturday 9 August, 2pm to 4pm. Prize giving at 3pm.

Sales and commission

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery will be responsible for processing all sales of artworks. It is only possible for staff to provide this service during normal opening hours and at the private view.

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery will take a 40% commission on all sales.

The price provided on your submission form will be inclusive of the commission.

As an example of what money the artist can expect to receive:
If an artwork sells at a price of £100, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery will take £40 which is 40% commission, so the artist will receive £60.

If an artwork sells, the artist is required to send an email to the art gallery giving their
bank details, in order to pay any money due.

Money owed to the artist will be sent within a reasonable period of the exhibition ending
and will be sent to each artist directly via BACS.

If your artwork is not for sale, please label your work NFS (Not For Sale).

All sold artworks will remain on display until the end of the exhibition.

Insuring your artwork

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery will not be insuring any artworks. All pieces of artwork are exhibited at the artist’s own risk. The artist is responsible for providing their own insurance for their artwork should they wish to do so. During this period, responsibility for care and safeguarding of artwork remains the responsibility of the artist.

Every care will be taken to ensure the safety of all artworks whilst in the care of Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery but the gallery cannot be held liable for any loss or damage to artwork or frames.

Collection of work

We request that your artwork is collected as soon as possible during opening hours.

Any uncollected artwork remaining at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery after Sunday 21 September 2025 will be disposed of by the gallery in any way it chooses.

Gallery staff have the right to refuse to return unsold artwork unless provided with legitimate proof of ownership, i.e. receipt of submission. Please do not be offended if you are asked for personal ID if you do not have your receipt with you on collection of your artwork.

Artists unable to collect their work at the given dates and times should contact the gallery team on 0161 474 4453 as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements.

Social media

All artworks on display at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Centenary Open Exhibition may be photographed or captured on video throughout the duration of the exhibition. These images may be shared on social media, either by Stockport Council or visitors to the gallery via their personal channels.

Data protection

Your personal information will be collected and used for Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Centenary Open Exhibition administrative activities. You can find more information in our museums privacy notice.

If after the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Centenary Open Exhibition you wish to have your contact details removed from our database, you can:

Due to the Data Protection Act 2018, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery is unable to give out the contact details of anyone who buys your artwork.

Visit our webpages for information on getting here.

Contacting us

If you have any more questions about the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Centenary Open Exhibition 2025, you can:

Threshold, Edgeley Garden by Bird Taylor

‘Threshold, Edgeley Garden' by Bird Taylor, winner of the adult category in the People’s Choice Awards 2023.