The Horton Summer Exhibition 2025 Theme Celebrates The Power Of Music
We are delighted to announce the theme for this year’s Summer Exhibition as ‘The Music of Life’ – paying tribute to The Horton’s extraordinary legacy as Europe’s first centre for music therapy.
Following the success of the inaugural Summer Exhibition in 2024, artists from across Surrey will once again be invited to submit their work on the theme for consideration by the panel of judges.
Artists are encouraged to explore ideas such as healing, rhythm, sound, memory, and emotion and their personal experiences of music’s ability to capture a moment or to transform lives. Submissions can include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textile and multi-media pieces.
Music Therapy was pioneered at Horton Hospital in the 1950s – the first time music was used as a tool for mental health care in a formal programme.
“This year’s theme is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the historic significance of The Horton – where music helped so many people to find joy, peace, and connection,” said The Horton’s director, Maria Reeves.
“We want visual artists to take music as their inspiration. The Music Of Life is a powerful theme and we are hoping to see some exciting ideas.”
Sponsor Kim Peacock, Managing Partner of Peacock & Co Solicitors said: “As part of our year of support for The Horton, we are thrilled to be sponsoring The Summer Exhibition, which is such a vibrant showcase for creativity in our community.”
Success in 2024
The Horton’s first open exhibition last year attracted entries from across Surrey responding to the theme ‘State of Mind.’ The work of 86 artists was selected – a mix of professionals and amateur artists displaying their work publicly for the first time. More than 2,500 people visited the exhibition over three weeks, and three artists were awarded prizes of their own solo exhibitions at The Horton – Kath Macdiarmid, Maria Walker and Sarah Simonds-Gooding.
Watch video interviews filmed at the launch event, featuring some of the artists and judges.
Call for Entries: How to Submit
The Horton Summer Exhibition 2025 is open to professional and amateur artists living in Surrey, including the former historic Surrey boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon.
Artists must be aged 18 years at the time of entry. Students in current education are eligible to apply.
The Horton Summer Exhibition will be held 1st – 26th August 2025 and will showcase a variety of artwork selected by a judging panel, with a main competition prize of free exhibition space and promotion for three artists in 2026 at The Horton.
Why enter?
The selection panel hopes to see an eclectic mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors. If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, you will benefit from:
- A three-week exhibition at a beautiful venue with free parking and a Cafe-Bar on-site.
- Artist’s name and link on our website.
- Outreach to press and media.
- Promotion of the exhibition on The Horton’s social media accounts.
- Printed exhibition leaflets/ posters and price lists.
- Promotional photography and video filmed in the exhibition space.
- Invitation to a Private View launch event.
- Opportunity to sell work – with a 20% + VAT commission (deposit) on sales taken by The Horton to raise funds for the charity.
Making a submission:
The cost of entry is being kept low to reduce barriers to participation. Artists will pay £5 per entry and can enter a maximum of three artworks. (£15)
If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, there will be an additional fee of £25 per artist (£10 for full-time students aged under 23) to participate; this goes towards the costs of running and promoting the exhibition and provides you with all the benefits listed above.
Please note that although you may enter up to three artworks, only one piece may be exhibited per artist.
Your artwork
- Your work must have been completed in the last five years.
- 2D – must be framed or canvas (no clip frames) with fixings and be a maximum size of 110cm wide x 110cm
- 3D – will be considered but there are fewer spaces available – at a maximum of 100cm wide.
- Artists submitting digital artwork must be able to provide a monitor or projector as required.
- All work for sale should be priced between £100 and £2,000. But you do not have to put your work up for sale.
Key dates
Submissions must be made ONLINE via the Curator Space Portal between Tuesday 27th May and Monday 9th June 2025. You cannot submit work before this date.
The Link to enter will be displayed here from 10.30am on Tuesday 27th May.
- The first round of selection will be made from digital images of artworks. The Royal Academy has produced a very helpful guide to Photographing Your Work if you need some tips.
- Final deadline for entries: Monday 9th June 2025 at midnight.
- If you are successful in the first round, we will notify you by email and may ask you to deliver your artwork to The Horton for the final round of in-person judging. Date to be confirmed.
- Artists selected to exhibit will be notified in the week beginning 30th June 2025
- Exhibition Dates: 1st – 26st August 2025
Please note, we can only accept applications through the Curator Space portal.
When the Portal opens for Submissions, please download and read both the Instructions document and the Terms and Conditions relating to entry before submitting your Work, as they form a contract between you and The Horton.
