In our first exhibition of 2026 we are once again holding a ‘Salon des Refuses’. This is an exhibition which is open _only_ to work which has been submitted to a juried exhibition since 1 Jan 2025 and did not get selected. It is an opportunity for artists to give a showing here to work which they firmly believed should have been shown previously, but which was not.
If you are familiar with the huge numbers of works which are submitted for the various open exhibitions then you will know that rejection rates of 60%, or even 90% are not uncommon. Reasons why a work may not be chosen could be that there has been too much work of that theme, or type already chosen, the preferences of the judges, that this artwork is simply unlucky in having been submitted to a show with an unusually high number of very strong submissions. Or it could be that the judges were not seeing what the artist hoped.
This is the third time we have held this exhibition and as we are not accustomed to and expecting visitors to comment ‘However did _that_ not get selected?’ We may never know the reasons …
WHAT IS NEW ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION?
This is the first exhibition to be organised by the new Art at the Alex CIO. (The charity being set up to run some of the Alex’s activities). We are planning to have judging of visitor’s favorite artwork with a small prize, so even if not exhibiting come along and be a judge yourself. We promise you will not be disappointed in the quality of the work!
DO YOU HAVE WORK WHICH MAY FIT INTO THIS SHOW?
If you have art that falls into this category and are a local artist you can apply to be part of this Salon. You need to read the terms here (LINK) which will direct you to online forms. The fee is £10 for up to two works and the deadline is 31 January. (However if you have any work currently awaiting verdict of CASE (Coventry Art Societies Exhibition at Herbert Art Gallery) or Leamington Open (both with deadlines for judging before our salon opens) email Stephen Baker (see terms document linked above) for advice, in case you are not chosen by these this time.