“What keeps us well?” A Heritage Project
Open Call for Creatives
“Woven into the days of stress
The golden threads of thankfulness”
– ‘Shalford, 1921’ by A.F. Freeman
Between wandering and wondering lies opportunity.
Share how you navigate what keeps you well.
Enter here
Deadline: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59pm (GMT).
Inspired by A.F. Freeman’s 1921 poem titled ‘Shalford, 1921’, discovered in a Shalford Women’s Institute scrapbook at the Surrey History Centre, we invite artists, writers, and filmmakers to reflect on our prompt.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We welcome creative responses in any form. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Visual art: Drawing, painting, illustration, sculpture, photography, mixed media, digital art, etc (high-quality image, 300dpi), or film (up to 3 minutes, submitted via Vimeo or YouTube link)
- Written work: Letters, poetry, prose, short reflections, etc (up to 500 words)
If your work doesn’t fit into these examples, that’s absolutely fine — we encourage creativity in any medium.
If you have any questions about what kind of work you can submit, or need guidance on formats, please contact: hello@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com
1. Over 18s – Visual
2. Over 18s – Written
ELIGIBILITY
- Entry is free, and you can be based anywhere in the world.
- Open to creatives of all ages and experience levels: students, emerging artists, and established practitioners.
- You can send multiple submissions across categories.
HOW TO ENTER
Submit your work here by Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 pm (UK time).
- All visual artwork must be uploaded as a high-quality digital image (300dpi). Film/video entries must be provided via Vimeo or YouTube link, and all written work must be uploaded as a Word Document.
- Entrants can submit multiple pieces of work to more than one category.
- Selected entrants will be contacted about exhibiting original works.
- An independent panel will select the winning works and pieces, which will be shared more widely.
- All entrants will be notified by the end of February 2026.
If you’d like any support with accessibility, please email Samantha: hello@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com
PRIZES
We invite submissions from artists and writers, with separate prizes for each category. The winner of each category will receive:
- £750 cash prize
- Inclusion in the final What Keeps Us Well showcase
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Surrey History Centre’s archive of 800 years of history
- Selected works will also be featured in a public exhibition and events.
FAQs
Terms and Conditions
Download Creative Open Call
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Alongside three community partners, The Halow Project, Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum, and Surrey Youth Groups, we’ll dive into SHC’s rich archive to uncover how communities have stayed well through food, exercise, coming together for shared activities, taking notice of the world around them, nature, creativity, connection, and more.
Return to What Keeps Us Well
Send something you’ve created to someone you appreciate today. When it’s not your birthday but just an ordinary day, it feels even more special to receive something unexpected that someone has made just for you.
Email us:
hello@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com
Call us on:
020 8079 2938
Monday – Friday
9:30am – 5pm
Follow us on:
Instagram
LinkedIn
All Rights Reserved. We're a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, registered with Companies House (Registered Company Number 9784441).
Projects
Gallery
Shop
Donate
Privacy Policy
Safeguarding Policy
E.D.I Policy
Environmental Policy