THE Pound Arts Open Exhibition is giving aspiring artists the chance to win a cash prize for the fourth year running.

The £500 first prize is double what was on offer last year, when 150 pieces of art work were submitted.

Artists are being asked to enter their work for consideration, then selected pieces will go on display as part of the exhibition.

The art work will then be in the running to compete for the £500 as well as the Goldfish Bowl Gallery and Right Angle Framing Prize of £250 and the Corsham Print Prize of 1,000 colour postcards of the artist’s work.

The winners of these prizes will be selected by a panel which consists of Diana Hatton, visual arts co-ordinator for The Pound Arts Trust, Stephanie Szakalo, owner of the Goldfish Bowl Gallery, and Rick Smith, a Wiltshire-based artist and illustrator.

There will also be The People’s Prize of £150 which will be given to the artist whose work receives the most votes from visitors to the exhibition.

Ian Martin, executive director of The Pound Arts Trust, said: “We were delighted with the vast range of work which was submitted last year, with much more 3D art work than the previous years, and are looking forward to showcasing the talents of local artists this year.”

All pieces entered must be original and unaided work which can include paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, mixed media, textiles, photography or ceramics.

All work entered must be for sale, as one of the aims of the open exhibition is to enable artists to showcase and then sell their work.

The submission date for entries is October 21, between 10am and 6pm, and the exhibition will run from October 29 until December 17.

For more information and to request an application form, call (01249) 701628.