OPEN CALL

Night Life: What Happens When We Lose the Darkness?

Artists, photographers, researchers, and scientists are invited to submit work for an exhibition exploring the ecological impact of artificial light and the loss of natural darkness.

Night Life: What Happens When We Lose the Darkness? will be curated by Gael Hillyard as part of What Remains, a five-year project exploring darkness, ecology, astronomy and the changing night landscape. This is the third exhibition in a sequence following Fair Isle: Windswept Voices, and Continuum: Light & Life on the Atlantic Edge.

This new exhibition will consider how artificial light alters darkness, including its effects on wildlife, landscape, nocturnal habitats, human experience and the visibility of the night sky.

Submissions are welcomed from people working across art, science, ecology, astronomy, design and research, provided the work engages meaningfully with the theme.

The exhibition will consider the following themes:

Natural Darkness
Darkness as habitat, landscape, atmosphere and ecological condition.

Nocturnal Species
Wildlife, plant life, migration, feeding, breeding, behaviour and other species dependent on darkness.

Encroaching Light
How artificial light enters and alters the night landscape through roads, settlements, ports, industry, LED lighting, sodium lighting, glare, and skyglow.

Response, restraint and possibility
Protected darkness, better lighting, reduced illumination, darker corridors, recovery and the choices we make about the future of the night.

Astronomy
This will feature in the exhibition, linking these themes through the changing visibility of the night sky.

Applicants do not need to assign their work to a section. Final placement will form part of the curatorial process.

Who can apply, and types of work accepted

The call is open to practising artists and photographers, as well as people working in research, science, ecology, astronomy, and related fields.

You do not need to identify yourself as a professional artist to apply, and you may submit up to three works.

The exhibition will primarily comprise work suitable for wall display and should be no larger than 80 cm on the longest side, including frame.

All selected work must be ready to hang with D-rings and cord (not wire)

Selection will be based on quality, relevance to the theme, suitability for the space and the contribution each work makes to the exhibition as a whole.

Submission does not guarantee selection.

Dates

Applications open - 15 October 2026
Applications close - 15 December 2026
Selected applicants notified by - 15 January 2027
Delivery of artwork - 22 February 2027
Collection - 6 and 7 March 2027
Exhibition - 24 February to 6 March 2027
Venue - Gym Hall, WASPS Inverness Creative Academy

Fees and sales

There is no application fee.

A 15% commission will be charged on works sold during the exhibition.

Public programme

The exhibition will open with a preview event.

At least one public talk will accompany the exhibition, exploring darkness, artificial light, ecology and the changing night sky.

A small programme of related workshops is planned, including sessions in astronomy and drawing the night sky.

Participation and mentoring

Successful applicants will be invited to an optional online introduction and briefing before the exhibition.

Applicants who are not successful will be invited to an optional online follow-up session focused on the exhibition theme, curatorial selection and future opportunities. Please note, this is not a feedback session.

Applicants may also express an interest in a short exhibition mentoring placement connected to the preparation and delivery of the exhibition.

Participation in mentoring or invigilation is optional and will not affect selection.

How to apply

Please apply using the form below. You will be asked to upload a short biography and up to three works, each with a good-quality image, title, medium, and dimensions, and a short statement explaining how each work relates to the theme.

APPLY HERE

If you have any questions, please contact hello@gaelhillyard.com. We look forward to receiving your application.