The ‘Washington Open Exhibition’ returns to Arts Centre Washington this November. Woo hoo!

I loved last year’s ‘Washington Open Exhibition’ and I make no apologies here for reproducing one of my favourite pieces, Jessica Courtnell’s ‘Wandering Spirit’—which manages to be both charming and eerie. But, as ever, the organisers have invited submissions this year from artists in the north-east working in a range of mediums including two-dimensional media, sculpture, textile, ceramics, glass and moving image. And, as ever, people from all backgrounds and levels of experience will be represented from amateurs to professionals. This year the theme is ‘Belonging’, a subject loose enough to invite all sorts of responses, and I can’t wait to see how people have responded to it. The winner of the show will be announced early next year, and they will get the chance of staging their own show in 2027.

Spotlight: Washington Open Exhibition, 12 November-16 January, Arts Centre Washington, sunderlandculture.org.uk