Belonging open exhibition 2026

30th October -1st November

What does belonging mean to you?

Our annual Open Exhibition, ‘Belonging’, brings together over 60 artworks by professional artists, community groups, individuals, children and young people, exploring the many different meanings of belonging.

Selected by a panel of judges – Haleema Aziz, John Cooper, Wing Cheung and Eliana France-Williams, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of creative voices within our communities, offering a rich mix of artistic styles, mediums and perspectives. From personal reflections on identity, home and heritage to wider themes of connection, community and finding our place in the world, the artworks invite us to consider what it means to belong – and what happens when we don’t.

At times playful and uplifting, at others deeply personal and thought-provoking, ‘Belonging’ celebrates both the quality and diversity of artistic expression, creating space for conversation, reflection and shared experiences.

Above all, the exhibition reflects our belief that creativity belongs to everyone, and that art has the power to bring people together.

An exhibition about belonging, where everyone belongs.

The winners

Artist Category

Winner Daisy Rutherford – If you enjoy it, it isn’t a waste of time (painting)

Runners up Ray Hughes – Loss (painting) ,Ana Lucia Cuevas – BELONGING; FORMED IN CLAY, HELD IN FRIENDSHIP (sculpture)

Highly commended Christian Roden -Ash, Marie (charcoal), Sally Hirst -You belong on the bus (prints), Aimee Elizabeth Jackson- Tides of Memory (installation) , Sana Zafar -Mohra—Urdu for “chess piece (painting)

Community Category

Winner Tegan Sterling – a glimpse of old trafford (photography)

Runners up Mitch Hughes -Assortative Mating (glass), Ruth Helen -Doves (pastel drawing)

Highly Commended Barney Gibbons -Sydenham Garden (video and poem), Maria A -Breakout Room Four (poem), Creative conversations group – Belonging (kinisuaiga)

11-16’s Category

Winner Nok Mei (15) -Soul In The Nature and The Hubbub Of The City (painting and pastel drawing)

Runner up Brontë (15) -The imperfections of being human (painting), Hugo (15) -ERE SHE IS (photo)

Highly Commended Ian (11)- Full Moon, Sophie (11)- Journeying together, Ezzy (11)- Once lost now found, Anna Sofia (13)-Sticky Roads Made Of Woo And Dandruff

10 and unders Category

Winner Nathan (7) – Happy elephant

Runners up Micah (5) -Muddy Garden, Ho-Yee (Rheanna) (8) -My Autumn Companion

Highly Commended Jade(9) -Meow Meow Meow, Idrees and Yusuf (6 and 4) -A book about us, Sherry (9) – Connection, Hayder (10)-Me