BUDDING artists could find themselves in the frame — with a chance to have their work displayed at Bolton Museum.

Preparations are now underway for Bolton Museum’s fifth Open Art exhibition and competition.

And artists have just two months to put brush to canvas and submit their art.

The entries will be considered by a panel of independent judges, including Helen Stalker, assistant curator at Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester; Vanessa McDermott, community development officer at Bolton at Home; and Yvonne Hardman, art gallery officer at Touchstones art gallery in Rochdale.

Prizes, sponsored by Ken Bromley Art Supplies, will be awarded for first, second and third place.

There will also be a Visitors’ Choice Award as voted by the general public and presented at the end of the exhibition.

Submissions are welcomed from anyone aged over 16, who currently lives, works or studies within Bolton.

There are two classes for submission — wall mounted work, including paintings, wall hangings, photography, textiles, and plinth or free standing work such as sculpture, ceramics and glass.

The exhibition will run at Bolton Museum from Saturday, December 7, to Sunday, February 2, 2014.

Bolton Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Cllr Anthony Connell said: “The Open Art exhibition at Bolton Museum is one of the highlights of the calendar for budding artists throughout the borough. It is a very popular competition and usually results in hundreds of entries.”

Entries should be submitted in person to the museum on Friday, November 15 or Saturday, November 16 between 10am and 4pm.

For more information about entry guidelines and to download an entry form, visit boltonmuseums.org.uk