DEADLINE: 21st June 2026, Midnight

This exhibition is a collaboration between PensionBee and British Art Fair, and sits at the heart of PensionBee’s “Born to Retire” campaign, a celebration of the possibilities your pension can give you to pursue passion, purpose and reinvention.
 
We are curating an exhibition that explores the pursuit of creativity later in life: artists aged 50 and over whose practices reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition, whether through a second career in art, or long-awaited recognition after decades of practice. 
 
The exhibition foregrounds the artist as much as the artwork, pairing strong artistic quality with compelling personal narratives. Selected artists will receive significant exposure through PensionBee’s marketing platforms and British Art Fair’s audience of over 13,000 visitors, including press coverage, email newsletters and social media promotion. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are inviting submissions from artists who are:

• Aged 50 or over 
• Have lived, worked or studied in the UK at any point in their career
• Working in any medium that can be hung on a wall or displayed on a plinth (please note, works cannot be larger than 1.5m x 2m)
• At any stage of their career – emerging, mid-career or established 

We are particularly interested in artists whose stories reflect one or more of the following: 

• Artists who pursued another profession earlier in life and came to art later
• Artists who have practised for many years and are now receiving the recognition they deserve 

 

WHAT MATTERS

Selection will be made on the basis of both artistic quality and narrative strength. We are looking for work that stands on its own terms, alongside a story that resonates – one that speaks honestly about the path that led here. 
 
Specifically, we will consider: 

• The artist’s life and career story, and how it connects to their practice 
• How lived experience informs the work itself 
• The clarity and authenticity of the artist’s voice and narrative 
• The visual and conceptual quality of the proposed works

Five artists will be selected via the open call to show their work at British Art Fair alongside works from established and represented peers whose works have been put forward by galleries exhibiting at the fair. 
 
Please note: As this exhibition forms part of a wider campaign with PensionBee, selected artists will be asked to participate in content production during July 2026. This may include a studio visit or short filmed interview. This is a condition of selection, not optional, and will be fully supported by the PensionBee team.

WHAT'S ON OFFER 

Selected artists will receive: 

• Exhibition of their work at British Art Fair, 24–27 September 2026, within the iconic Saatchi Gallery 
• Promotion across PensionBee’s marketing platforms, including social media, email newsletters and press releases 
• Visibility to over 13,000 fair visitors and significant media reach 
• An allocation of complimentary tickets to the fair 
• Inclusion in a drinks reception hosted by PensionBee on the evening of Friday 25 September, 6-9pm 
• Marketing assets 
• Opportunity to show your work alongside established & represented peers 

21st June	Submission deadline (midnight)
1st July	Selected artists notified
w/c 6th or 13th July	Content production with PensionBee
8th September	Exhibition promotion begins
24th-27th September	BRITISH ART FAIR
25th September	Late Opening & PensionBee Drinks Reception, 6-9pm

SUBMISSION & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Artists must be available and open to filming in July.
• Submissions should include works created within the last five years.
• All artworks must be available for sale and not reserved at the time of the Fair.
• Due to the focus of the exhibition, works referencing gambling, weapons or conflict will not be considered.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

• Artworks must not exceed 1.5m x 2m in size.

LOGISTICS & COST

• Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting their works to/from a designated shipping point in London.
• All delivery, collection, and packaging costs must be covered by the artist.

SALES & COMMISSION

• The exhibition curator will retain a 30% commission on any sold works.

REPRESENTATION

• This exhibition aims to champion diversity of thought, location and identity across the UK. We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds and identities. 

 

CONTACT

• If you have any questions relating to the open call please contact: laura@ramsayfairs.com

I confirm that all works submitted as part of this application are my own original creations. I certify that I am the sole creator of the artworks and that they are original in concept, composition, and execution. The works do not infringe upon the intellectual property, copyright, or moral rights of any third party.

I further confirm that I hold full rights to exhibit and sell these works, and that all information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

If you'd like to find out more about PensionBee, head to https://www.pensionbee.com/uk to learn more.