Frequently Asked Questions (Rules) 

Eligibility

• Who is eligible to enter?
• How many works may I enter?
• What kind of work may I enter?
• Are photography and video eligible?
• Does my work need to be for sale?
• Are there any size restrictions?
• Can I enter diptychs / triptychs as one work?

 

Registration

• What are the dates of registration?
• How do I register?
• Can I register without submitting online?
• How much does it cost to enter?
• Should the price of my work incorporate commission?

 

Pre-selection / Selection

• How will I be notified if my work has been pre-selected?
• Does pre-selection imply my work has been selected for the exhibition?
• If my work is pre-selected, where do I find labels?
• Does my work need to be framed?
• Should I include any devices for hanging?
• Where should I deliver my pre-selected work?
• Do I have to deliver pre-selected work myself?
• How will I be notified if my work has been selected for the exhibition?
• Can I appeal if my work is not selected?
• When do I collect my work if it is not selected for the exhibition?
• What will happen to my work if I don’t collect it?

 

Exhibition 

• What will happen if my work is shortlisted for The Threadneedle Prize?
• What happens if my work is sold?
• What happens if my work is exhibited but not sold?

 

General

• Do I retain copyright?
• What happens if my work is damaged or lost?
• How do you use my personal data?
• What happens in the event of a dispute?
• What happens if I fail to adhere to these rules?

Who is eligible to enter?
Artists of any nationality, aged 18 or over on 1 January 2012, presently living or working in the UK or Continental Europe, except employees of the Federation of British Artists and Threadneedle, and their agents. Previous prizewinners may also submit up to three works, but they are not eligible to win the same prize for a period of three years. 

How many works may I enter?
You may enter a maximum of THREE works.  These must have been completed after 1 January 2011; however they must not have been exhibited in any other prize or competition in the UK or elsewhere. 

What kind of work may I enter?
You can submit work in a variety of mediums, including oil, tempera, acrylic, ink, vinyl, watercolour and other dry mediums. Your work can be on any form of support (canvas, paper, wood, plastic etc).  You may also enter original prints and drawings, sculptures, mixed media constructions, small-scale installations and reliefs.  All work pre-selected for handing-in must be received in exhibition condition (e.g. all canvases must be dry and mounted on stretchers or board) but with no hanging devices.

Are photography and video eligible?
We only accept photography or video entries where they form part of a mixed media installation.

Does my work need to be for sale?
Yes, all work must be for sale. 

Are there any size restrictions?
Works must be able to unpack at a size smaller than 2.4m. Some collection services may not accept works larger than 2m squared so please call them in advance to check their space availability. 

Can I enter diptychs/triptychs as one work?
Yes. Diptychs/triptychs must be photographed together as one image for pre-selection. If brought in for selection, diptychs and triptychs must be clearly labeled (ex. 1 of 3).

What are the dates of registration?
You must register your work on this website between Thurs 1 March 2012 and Wed 23 May 2012.  Our selectors may not consider registrations received after this deadline.  

How do I register?
The Threadneedle Prize operate a two-stage selection process for ALL entries – paintings and sculptures.  Registration is straightforward:

• Go to www.threadneedleprize.com/registration and proceed to our registration system. Enter your personal details on the online registration form. When completing this form you will be asked to confirm you have read and agreed to these exhibition rules.  At this point, you will decide on your unique artist login details (your email and a password).
• Then complete the online payment process using PayPal.  In the event of a problem, call 020 7930 6844 and payment can be made by credit card/switch card over the phone.
• Image files may be JPG (recommended) or PNG at no more than 4MB in size.  The system will accept varying resolutions and image dimensions. (Recommend is a maximum resolution of 300dpi and maximum pixel dimensions of 1024 pixels wide or high for optimal viewing).
• Complete a final check of your information and confirm your registration.

Can I register without submitting online?
Yes, you may print off a registration form from the exhibition’s website (or request a copy over the phone: 020 7930 6844) and post it, together with ONE image for each 2-dimensional work or up to THREE images for each 3-dimensional work on a CD in JPG format, to The Federation of British Artists (‘FBA’), 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD, marked ‘The Threadneedle Prize’.  Don’t forget to include the appropriate registration fee. Note: We are unable to accept printed photographs or transparencies.

How much does it cost to enter?
£12 per work (including VAT), which is non-refundable.  Cheques should be made payable to ‘Federation of British Artists’.  Artist members of the FBA and full-time students pay a reduced entry fee of £10 per work.

How will I be notified if my work has been pre-selected?
Our selectors will make a pre-selection on the basis of the images you submit.  You do not need to hand-in any work at this stage. To check whether or not your work has been pre-selected, login using your unique artist login details from noon on Wed 30 May.  All pre-selected works must then be handed-in to the Mall Galleries on one of the stated Receiving Days.  

Does pre-selection imply my work has been selected for the exhibition?
No, but it means one or more of your works has attracted the attention of our selectors.  If your work is pre-selected you will be invited to hand-in the work, so it can be shown to our panel of selectors, who will then decide whether or not to select it for the exhibition.

If my work is pre-selected, where do I find labels?
You may download labels here.  Alternatively labels are available at registrationthreadneedleprize.com when you sign-in using your unique artist login details.  You can print off and complete an online label for each pre-selected work in the usual way (your name, address, title of work, medium and price), before attaching it to the back (or underside) of each pre-selected work.

Does my work need to be framed?
No. You may send in unframed work. However, all works must be received in exhibition condition (e.g. all canvases must be dry and mounted on stretchers or board).

Should I include any devices for hanging?
No, do not attach any hanging devices to your work.  We operate our own hanging system.  All hooks, wires and other hanging devices must be removed before delivery to the Mall Galleries and works should be unwrapped on arrival before being presented to our art handling team.

Where should I deliver my pre-selected work?
Only work which has been notified as pre-selected should be delivered, unpacked, to the administrative offices of the Mall Galleries at 17 Carlton House, London SW1Y 5BD between 10am and 5pm on Fri 8 June or Sat 9 June 2012.  Please remember to bring TWO copies of your completed registration form when delivering your work.  

NOTE: Works can only be accepted at Mall Galleries on these Receiving Days.

Do I have to deliver pre-selected work myself?
No. You may ask friends or a transport agent to deliver work for you. A series of regional handing-in and collection points are also available to avoid you travelling in to central London.  Full details of these arrangements are available at threadneedleprize.com/receiving.  Remember that you are responsible for all expenses relating to any arrangements you make with these collection services.  We also encourage you to call these collection services in advance to check their space availability (they may not accept works larger than 2m squared).

How will I be notified if my work has been selected for the exhibition?
We will publish the registration numbers of all accepted works on the exhibition website by midday Tues 12 June 2012. All accepted artists will also be contacted by the organisers on that same day.  If you do not have access to the internet please call 020 7930 6844.

Can I appeal if my work is not selected?
No, the decision of the selection panel is final.

When do I collect my work if it is not selected for the exhibition?
Unselected work can be collected from the Mall Galleries between 10am and 5pm on Fri 15 and Sat 16 June 2012.  Works can only be collected on these collection days.  Please note we do not wrap works of art for collection or return.  Arrangements for the return of work handed-in at any of the regional collection points should be made with your collection service when handing-in pre-selected work.

What will happen to my work if I don’t collect it?
Any work still uncollected after these dates will be taken away immediately from the Mall Galleries and stored by an independent courier company.  This company will contact you to arrange collection or delivery at your expense.

What will happen if my work is shortlisted for The Threadneedle Prize?
Within seven days of notification, we will ask you to provide us with biographical information, some of which will be incorporated into the exhibition catalogue, together with a portrait photograph.  All shortlisted artists are also expected to attend a special awards dinner when the winner of The Threadneedle Prize will be announced and other prizewinners will receive their awards.

What happens if my work is sold?
The Mall Galleries will contact all artists whose work is sold as a result of the exhibition.  We will charge you a commission of 45% plus VAT on the price paid for any work notified as selected which is sold before, during or as a result of the exhibition, or on subsequent commissioned work (unless otherwise advised) arranged through the FBA. 

Should the price of my work incorporate commission?
Yes, the price of works that you enter on your registration form should include an allowance for the Mall Galleries’ commission of 45% (plus VAT).  If you are registered for VAT, then the VAT due on the selling price of the work should be included in the price entered on the registration form.

What happens if my work is exhibited but not sold?
Please arrange to collect unsold work from the Mall Galleries, London SW1 on the date provided to you by The Threadneedle Prize team.

Do I retain copyright?
Yes, the copyright in all work exhibited at The Threadneedle Prize will remain the property of you as the artist.  It is, however, a condition of entry that works may be photographed and filmed for press purposes in connection with the Prize and exhibition.  The Mall Galleries shall have the right of free reproduction of all works submitted for all catalogues, posters, postcards, DVDs, exhibition website and other promotional and educational material in connection with the prizes and exhibition.

What happens if my work is damaged or lost?
You are strongly advised to insure your own works.  The exhibition organisers will not be liable for any damage to works or for any loss of works.  The sponsors, carriers, the collection points and the Mall Galleries shall not be liable for any loss or damage, whether or not caused by their negligence.

How do you use my personal data?
The Mall Galleries will hold the personal data supplied on your registration form securely, in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998.  It will only be used for administering the prizes and exhibition and will not be transferred to any other party.

What happens in the event of a dispute?
Artists who submit work to The Threadneedle Prize shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Mall Galleries against any actions, claims, proceedings, losses, liabilities, charges, costs and expenses which the Mall Galleries may incur arising out of or in connection with any actual or alleged financial or contractual arrangements between such artist and any agent (other than the Mall Galleries) or any other third party.

What happens if I fail to adhere to these rules?
The Mall Galleries reserve the right to disqualify any work from the Prize and exhibition if the artist has failed to adhere to these rules.