The Our Chelmsford gallery at the Museum of Chelmsford is a vibrant space dedicated to celebrating the city’s creatives and communities. With regularly changing displays, it aims to showcase the depth and diversity of what’s going on in Chelmsford throughout the year.
Find out what’s coming up in this space here.
What you may see on your visit
Local Communities and Charities
Chelmsford is home to many inspiring projects and causes. Each year, we collaborate with local communities and charities to use this space to showcase their work, raise awareness, and share their goals.
Previous displays include: Cool 2 B Kind, Sanctus Stories
Exhibition Programme
Alongside our rotating temporary exhibitions, this space also hosts complementary displays that expand on the themes of the main exhibitions. This space may also be used for exhibition-related workshops and conversations.
Previous displays include: Wilderness Foundation, Reframing Our Art, Oi Chelmsford! Creative works by Moulsham students
Gallery Wall Programme
In partnership with Ignite Chelmsford, the Gallery Wall programme at the Museum of Chelmsford provides a platform for local creatives or creative groups to exhibit their work in a professional setting. The museum values the opportunity to welcome creatives into the space, not just to showcase their work, but to learn from and celebrate the incredible talent that exists within our communities.
Selected annually through an open call and reviewed by a panel of Ignite partners and museum staff, the Gallery Wall programme invites applicants aged 16 and over who live, work, or study in Chelmsford. We welcome submissions across a wide range of genres, provided the work can be safely and meaningfully displayed within the space.
Previous displays include: The Contortionist by Slowslowzo
Our Chelmsford Gallery is on the first floor of the Museum, comprising four display spaces on walls of varying sizes, and one display case.
Upcoming dates to note
- The next gallery wall call out will be on Wednesday 7 January.
- Deadline to apply is Wednesday 28 January at midnight.
- Shortlisting early February.
- Installation: Friday 6 March
- Exhibition slot: Saturday 7 March to Monday 25 May
- De-install: Tuesday 26 May
Eligibility criteria
- We encourage a range of work, from all art styles through creative writing to craft and graphic design. As long as we can work together to find a way to display it safely and impactfully, the museum welcomes it.
- We recommend that displayed pieces be flat/2D and can be mounted on a wall or come with a plan on how it can be displayed safely. Work placed inside the display case can be 3D.
- We welcome applications from all creatives over the age of 16, living, working or studying in the Chelmsford district and particularly encourage applications from those who are underrepresented including non-graduates, disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds. We welcome applicants from a range of educational backgrounds and there is no minimum formal qualification for this programme.
- Applications can be submitted by an individual artist or by one person on behalf of a group of creatives.
Key terms
- You will need to be available to install your work in the week before the stated exhibition slots. Pieces must be prepared in advance to be hung, and there will be assistance from a member of the team to install and deinstall.
- You will need to submit text for a small panel to introduce and explain the exhibition (max 125 words) and text for a small label for each exhibit – title, artist name, price (if work is for sale). The Museum will support you with this.
- Any of the exhibiting works can be for sale with an agreement. The museum reserves the right to receive a commission of 30% for all sold works. A full price list must be provided. Any commission generated will support the running costs of the museum.
Download the full terms and conditions
The Selection Panel
The selection panel will choose the creatives to display from those that meet the eligibility criteria. Decisions about which to display will be based on creating a balanced programme over time, showcasing different art forms and themes, and the work of different communities and demographics.
If your work is not chosen first time you can resubmit in the future.
To apply
Please contact us via the museum website’s online enquiry form, including a selection of examples.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the Gallery Wall with a member of staff, please do get in touch. Please contact us if you require any accessibility provision.
