This year we have over 600 works on display covering a vast array of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, sculpture and architecture by artists ranging from leading professionals to emerging talent, from across the UK and beyond.

We are delighted to announce that this year's invited Artist is Rana Begum, RA.

Works for this open were selected by an esteemed panel of judges which included  Freeny Yianni, Dr Chris Stephens and Ann Christopher RA RWA Hon, together with RWA Academicians Fiona Robinson PRWA, Jessa Fairbrother RWA,  Andrew Hardwick RWA, Stephen Hoskins RWA and Hamish Young RWA. 

We are grateful for prize donors:

• The Academy Award, sponsored by the RWA and RWA Academicians | Awarded to an outstanding work in any medium. 
   medium that has particularly appealed to the selectors (not open to RWA Academicians) | Prize: £5000 
• The Steele Art Prize, awarded by Tony Steele | Awarded to work reflecting contemporary society, saying things about people or place and what’s going on around us or in the world | Prize: £4000
• Niche Print Makers Award, sponsored by Niche Frames | Awarded to any work using printmaking techniques | Prize: £250 in printing and framing, and £250 cash  

• Sto Emerging Architecture Prize at the RWA, Sponsored by Sto  | Awarded to an architecture work made by a student or recent graduate (graduated 2020 or after) | Prize: £500 in cash 

• The Drawing Prize, sponsored by Fiona Robinson PRWA | Awarded to any drawing | Prize: £300 in cash  
• The Painting Prize, sponsored by Derek Balmer PPRWA | Awarded to any painting | Prize: £300 and a copy of Derek Balmer: A Singular Vision, by Andrew Lambirth
• The Floating Circle Prize, sponsored by Friends of the RWA | Awarded to a student | Prize: Interview to be featured in Floating Circle magazine, as well as a £250 cash prize 
• St Cuthberts Mill Work on Paper Prize, sponsored by St Cuthberts Paper Mill Awarded to any work on paper | Prize: 20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm 56x76cm paper worth over £120 
• Pangolin Sculpture Prize, sponsored by Pangolin Digital  | Awarded to any sculpture | Prize: A 3D digital scan of your work by Pangolin Digital Ltd.
• 2 x Cass Art Materials Awards, sponsored by Cass Art | Awarded to: Any artist | Prize: £50 voucher to spend at Cass Art  
• Cass Art Solo Show Award, sponsored by Cass Art | Awarded to any artist | Prize: Solo Show in Cass Art, Bristol Park Street store
• Evolver Magazine Cover Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any work | Prize: A cover image for the November/December issue of Evolver magazine 
• Evolver Magazine Feature Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine | Awarded to any artist | Prize: A feature article in the November/December issue of Evolver magazine  

Image top: Mountain Ridges, Chowwai Cheung

RWA 171 Annual Open Exhibition is sponsored by