Baltic Open Submission 2026 puts North East artists and hobbyists on show

Some of the most exciting art on show in Gateshead this season was made by people who have never exhibited before. Baltic Open Submission 2026, on the ground floor of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, brings together painting, sculpture, photography, video and more by artists, makers, self-taught creatives and hobbyists from across the North East.

Now in its third edition, the open call aims to give visibility to people whose work may never have been seen by a public audience. No training, qualifications or exhibiting experience were needed to take part. More than 1,100 artists and makers submitted work, and 79 were selected by a panel including the artists Laura Lancaster and Rachel Lancaster, Tees Valley Artist of the Year 2025 Will Hughes, and Baltic's assistant curators. The exhibition, supported by Fenwick, presents up to 100 works and runs until 4 April 2027.

This year Baltic also launched a Youth Open Call for 11 to 17-year-olds on the theme of Local. Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth took first place in the Fenwick Art Award for her oil painting Riverside, showing autumn light on a walk in Wooler with her best friend, with Henry, 11, and Jason, 14, named runners-up. All three will be exhibited in Fenwick's flagship store on Northumberland Street.

Upstairs, Close to Home brings together four major series by the documentary photographer Tish Murtha for the first time in the North East. Born in South Shields in 1956, Murtha documented life in Elswick with honesty and empathy, and the exhibition was developed with her daughter, Ella Murtha. It is shown alongside new work by Newcastle-based artist Kuba Ryniewicz exploring joy, resilience and everyday life across the region, until 4 April 2027.

Baltic itself is a landmark. The former Baltic Flour Mills, opened in 1950, was converted by Ellis Williams Architects and opened as an art centre at midnight on 13 July 2002. It has no permanent collection, instead offering constantly changing exhibitions, and in 2011 it became the first venue outside London or Liverpool to host the Turner Prize. Baltic says it has now welcomed 10 million visitors.

With four floors of art, two viewing decks, a cafe, shop and library, Baltic is open Wednesday to Sunday with free entry. Exhibition and event details are on the Baltic website.