Hi Reader
The important update first:
From Tuesday 9 June, our opening hours will change.
We will be open 10am - 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Our annual Summer Arts contest, in conjunction with the Wantage Summer Arts Festival is now open and the subject is one of our most accessible ones yet!
Wantage Summer Arts Festival 2026 — Art Competition
The annual Wantage Summer Arts Festival Art Competition is back, and this year we are turning our attention to the streets.
The theme for 2026 is Street Photography, and we are inviting photographers of all ages and abilities to submit their work. Whether you are drawn to the morning light falling across King Alfred's statue in the Market Place, the rhythm of a Wednesday market in full swing, the weathered detail of a Victorian shopfront on Newbury Street, or a quiet alley off the beaten track — this competition is an invitation to look at Wantage differently.
There are two categories, Over 16 and Under 16, so there is a place for every photographer, whatever their age or experience.
A note on print size and getting your entry printed
All entries must be a minimum of A4 size.
If you need your photograph printed, Neil at Photogenic Photography is offering to print entries for £10 each. Simply email your image to Neil at neil@photogenicphotography.co.uk and he will print and deliver your entry directly to us at the gallery — so you do not even need to make the trip yourself.
When emailing Neil, please use Wantage Summer Arts Festival as your subject line and include your name and phone number so he can keep everything organised.
The prize in each category is £100, plus professional framing and display of the winning piece in the Dolphin Gallery window.
How to enter
Bring your entry to Dolphin Gallery, 23–34 Market Place, Wantage OX12 8AE, before the deadline of 3 July 2026. Judging takes place on 9 July 2026.
Our judge this year will be David Rutter who is a Distinctions Director and Fellow of the Royal Photographic. You can find out more about David and his work at https://www.davidrutterphotography.com/
The competition is run in conjunction with Wantage Town Council.
The competition is run in conjunction with Wantage Town Council.
New workshop added for August
Simon Pink is a regularly featured artist in the gallery, known for his bold, vivid use of colour. We are so pleased that he is joining our workshop series for our August session, and this one is going to be a brilliant evening.
Ceramics Weekend returns — bigger, and this time in August
Last April we hosted our first Ceramics Weekend at Dolphin Gallery, bringing a collection of talented potters together under one roof for a single day. The response was wonderful, and we have been thinking about how to build on it ever since.
This August, the Ceramics Weekend returns on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August, expanded to a full two days and with even more potters joining us. If you love handmade ceramics — whether you are a collector, a browser, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful things made by hand — this is a weekend worth marking in your diary.
We will be sharing the potters with you on our Instagram feed as we roll them out, starting next week. Follow us at @dolphingallerywantage so you do not miss any of them.
More details to follow, but for now — save the date.
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2026 Dolphin Gallery, 23–34 Market Place, Wantage OX12 8AE
That should be enough to keep you and your creative endeavours busy over the upcoming months. Don't forget - we also have a supply of art materials if you need to restock what you have or want to try something completely new!
