Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries
Submit up to four images of your work representing the human figure and a 300-word artist statement explaining how the bursary will develop your practice for a chance to win a free year-long membership to weekly life drawing sessions.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- annual cycle, check dates
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- Free year-long membership to weekly life drawing sessions at Mall Galleries (approximately 44 sessions per year)
- Location
- Mall Galleries, London
- Exhibition window
- Jan 1, 2026
- Applicants notified
- Dec 5, 2025
About
Overview
The Hesketh Hubbard Art Society, London's largest life drawing group, is offering three free year-long membership bursaries to young artists aged 18-30. Recipients attend weekly untutored life drawing sessions at Mall Galleries free of charge for one year, starting January 2026.
Key Dates
- Submissions open: Wednesday 22 October 2025, 12 noon
- Submissions close: Friday 21 November 2025, 12 noon
- Notification of shortlisted artists: Friday 28 November 2025, 12 noon
- Interviews with shortlisted artists: Wednesday 3 December at Mall Galleries
- Winners announced: Friday 5 December 2025, 12 noon
- Bursaries begin: January 2026
Eligibility
- Ages 18-30 at the close of submissions
- Intended for artists with limited prior access to life and portrait drawing
- Artists can work in any medium except those causing damage or disruption (e.g., dip pens and ink are not allowed)
The Bursary Includes
- Free weekly life drawing sessions at Mall Galleries for one year (approximately 44 sessions per year)
- Untutored sessions on Friday evenings and selected Monday evenings, 6pm-8:15pm
- Access to three models per session: quick 15/30-minute poses, two-hour long poses, and two-hour clothed portrait poses
How to Apply
All applications are submitted online and free of charge via Jotform.
Application Requirements
- Upload up to four images of your work in JPEG or PNG format, under 5MB, representing the human figure
- Write an artist statement (up to 300 words) answering: How will the bursary help develop your artistic practice?
- Shortlisted artists will be invited for a face-to-face interview on 3 December and must present a small portfolio
Selection Panel
- Simon Whittle, President of the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society
- Pauline Cushnie, Vice President of the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society
- Paul Majek, 2025 Winner of the Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries
- Calum Bayne, Exhibitions Coordinator at Mall Galleries
- Award
- Free year-long membership to weekly life drawing sessions at Mall Galleries (approximately 44 sessions per year)
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Theme
- Life drawing and portrait drawing from a range of live models to develop artistic practice with the human figure.
- Eligibility
- Young artists aged 18-30 at close of submissions with limited prior access to life and portrait drawing; all mediums welcome except those causing damage (e.g., dip pens and ink).
- Audience
- Young artists aged 18 to 30
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.