Cork Artists Invited to Submit Work for County Council's Winter Exhibition

Cork County Council's LHQ Gallery has announced its third annual open-call winter exhibition, inviting artists and makers from across the county to showcase their creative works in a celebration of artistic imagination running throughout November and December.

The 2025 exhibition, titled "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think", takes inspiration from the 1975 Dr Seuss book and will explore the thinking and ideas behind artworks. The show acknowledges that all art begins with an idea, whether inspired by a rural landscape, a poem, a milking stool, or abstract concepts.

This marks the third year that LHQ Gallery, located in the County Library building on Carrigrohane Road, will host an open-call winter exhibition. The gallery has established itself as a dedicated visual arts space for Cork residents, with previous exhibitions proving popular amongst local artists and visitors alike.

The 2023 show, "Small Things Like These", featured almost 100 works by 85 artists, whilst "Made by Hands" followed in 2024. This year's exhibition promises to continue the tradition of showcasing diverse artistic talent from across Cork.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, said: "This open-call show gives artists, craftspeople and makers an opportunity to show their work in our dedicated gallery space. We look forward to seeing the wide array of talented artists and makers from across the County of Cork exhibit their work at LHQ Gallery."

The gallery welcomes applications from artists and makers of all disciplines, with works required to be small or medium in scale. Artists can submit one or two existing works for consideration, with accepted formats including 2D works such as painting, photography, print, drawing, or mixed media. Three-dimensional works including ceramics, sculpture, textiles, and books are also welcome, as are multimedia pieces.

The exhibition will run from 3 November to 19 December 2025, providing artists with a six-week platform to display their work in a professional gallery setting. This extended run ensures maximum exposure for participating artists during the busy pre-Christmas period, when footfall at the County Library building is traditionally high.

Applications are now open and will remain so until 28 September, giving artists just over a month to prepare and submit their entries. Those interested in participating can apply through the Cork County Council website at www.corkcoco.ie.

For Cork's creative community, this open call represents an accessible opportunity to exhibit work in a council-run space, particularly for emerging artists who might find commercial gallery spaces beyond reach. The inclusive nature of the call, accepting various mediums and scales, ensures that artists at all stages of their careers can participate.

The exhibition's playful title suggests a celebration of creativity and imagination, encouraging artists to submit works that showcase not just technical skill but the creative thinking that drives artistic expression; perfect timing for those who've been working on pieces over the summer months.