Origins Creatives 2026 welcomes submissions of creative work from all students attending UAL Awarding Body qualifications. Works will be selected for the final showcase which consists of an in-person event and UAL webpage featuring the works, a SoundCloud playlist and a YouTube playlist. Some selected works may also be featured on our @ualawardingbody Instagram profile.
The organiser of the Origins Creatives 2026 (the ‘Showcase’) is the University of the Arts London of 272 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EY (“UAL”). To contact UAL, please email: origins.submission@arts.ac.uk
Showcase submissions will be judged by an external curator based on the following criteria:
* Strength of concept; and
* Clarity of communication.
Creative Debuts will be our curator for this year (‘Curator’) and they will judge the submissions. The Curator will select the successful applicants whose artworks will be featured in the Showcase (‘Selected Applicants’). The decision of the Curator will be final. UAL reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel or amend the Showcase where it becomes necessary to do so.
Origins Creatives Lives 2026
This year, we are welcoming submissions for live performances to be featured in Origins Creatives Live, which will take place on Friday 17 July. Students must submit original work, including a recording or video of their proposed performance. Submissions can include DJ sets, rapping, spoken word, singing, acoustic performances, as well as solo or group performances, and more.
Please note that all performances should be no more than 20 minutes.
If selected, students may be required to bring their own instruments on the day.
How to submit
Submissions will only be accepted from tutors at UAL Awarding Body approved centres on behalf of students. Please use the following application form to submit the details of student work you wish to enter.
Eligibility:
- The Showcase is open to all students studying UAL qualifications from all UAL Awarding Body qualification subject areas in UAL approved centres in the United Kingdom and international approved centres.
- Only two submissions per UAL Awarding Body qualification per subject area per approved site will be permitted. For example, if your centre delivers a Level 3 Art and Design Diploma across three different disciplines but the same subject area (e.g. Photography, Fine Art and Fashion) you may submit a total of two projects. The only exception to this is where courses are delivered on separate sites. OR if your centre delivers two UAL Awarding Body qualifications, for example Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design, you may submit two student projects from each qualification, making a total of four.
- UAL reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the Showcase.
Please note:
- You must submit via this form only, and complete it for each student work you would like to enter.
- Joint/collaborative submissions are permitted and encouraged.
- In accordance with the UAL centre agreement, you are responsible for obtaining consent from the student to enable UAL to use their personal data in accordance with the Origins Creatives Showcase 2026 Privacy Notice.
You are required to share this privacy notice with your students before consent is requested. You are required to maintain a record of this consent until 29 December 2026.
- All entries must be submitted by 19 June 2026, 5pm. Any entries submitted after this date will not be accepted.
- We anticipate that all selected students and centres will be notified by 29 June 2026.
- Students who have submitted physical works will be notified on Friday 26 June 2026, but any students with digital work selected will be informed on Monday 29 June 2026.
Please keep an eye on your mailbox (even your junk folder!) for an official notification regarding the results.
If you are submitting a physical artwork (such as, but not only: paintings, photography, illustrations, moodboards, magazines, installations - including audio and light installations, sculptures, costumes, set design, scenography etc.), in case of selection, you are required to ship the artworks to us in order to exhibit them in the showcase.
We will provide detailed instructions about where to ship the selected artworks. The shipping of the artworks is the responsibility of the student/tutor/centre and the artworks must be received by Mall Galleries no later than 9 July 2026. We will then arrange shipping back at our expense after the end of the showcase. Please submit any questions regarding this event or the entry process to origins.submission@arts.ac.uk.
You should get in touch if your address, phone or email change after the Showcase to help with the return of artwork.
Artwork Submission
To find out more about the requirements for submitting work, such as file formats and sizes, please see our detailed submission guidelines document.
Please submit all the necessary files needed to best represent the artwork.
Thank you,
UAL Awarding Body