Launching on Transgender Day of Visibility 2026, we’re excited to announce a new Open Call!
Southampton Pride, in partnership with John Hansard Gallery, Southampton Trans Pride, GO! Southampton, City Eye, Breakout Youth, and Beyond Reflections invites Expressions of Interest from UK-based artists, designers and illustrators to create artworks exploring trans+ pride and gender diversity.
This is a chance to increase visibility and celebrate the achievements of the trans+ community, and have your artwork shown at Southampton Summer Sessions 2026, a series of open-air concerts held in Guildhall Square in June. The selected artworks will be displayed on boards across the festival, and later on the prominent exterior windows of John Hansard Gallery and City Eye in Southampton’s Cultural Quarter.
We actively encourage applications from trans+ people, Black, Asian and Global Majority trans+ people, and those who are currently less represented in the creative sector.
- Five shortlisted artists will be invited to propose artworks for the site boards of Summer Sessions on Guildhall Square.
- One selected artist or group will also be commissioned to create a new vinyl artwork that will be displayed on the window of John Hansard Gallery and City Eye’s building from August 2026 onwards.
Artist Fees
- Five selected artists will each receive £500 to develop proposed artworks.
- One selected artist or group will receive an additional £1,000 to develop the final artwork.
- Other production costs will be covered separately.
Selection Panel
- Gillian Russell, Beyond Reflections.
- Representatives from Southampton Pride, Southampton Trans Pride, GO! Southampton, John Hansard Gallery, City Eye, Breakout Youth and other LGBTQIA+ organisations in Southampton.
- The final artwork will be selected through a public vote.
Additional information
- Deadline for Expressions of Interest: Monday 20 April 2026 at 12pm.
- Southampton Trans Pride is proud to have merged with Southampton Pride and now will exist under one umbrella to carry on the important work and legacy of the trans+ community.
Southampton will be hosting UK Pride in 2027