What’s New in the UK Art Scene
1. Bridget Riley Exhibition Reviewed
A new review in The Guardian praises the Bridget Riley: Learning to See exhibition for its optical mastery and the way it invites viewers into “prolonged and repeated acts of looking.”
This kind of critical attention underscores how Riley’s work continues to resonate and challenge perception even now.
2. Art Fund Opens 2026 Museum of the Year Call
The Art Fund has launched its call for the Museum of the Year 2026.
This high-profile prize (£120,000 for the winner) is open to any UK museum, gallery, historic house, library, or archive — regardless of size — with a focus on innovation and impact.
It could be a big moment for smaller or more experimental institutions to gain visibility and funding.
https://alt-africa.com/2025/11/21/art-fund-launches-search-for-museum-of-the-year-2026/
3. Art-History TV: Turner’s Sketchbooks Feature in BBC Documentary
A BBC Two / iPlayer documentary titled Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks explores J.M.W. Turner’s creative process, featuring his sketchbooks, interviews with art historians and modern British artists.
The series highlights Turner's raw, exploratory methods, helping audiences understand how his preliminary work informed his finished masterpieces.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/19/turner-the-secret-sketchbooks-review-bbc-two-iplayer
4. Debate on Elizabethan Aesthetic in Contemporary Culture
A Guardian piece titled “An Elizabethan power move with bows” features a letter (by Dr Charlotte Potter & Chris Walters) responding to an earlier article on the symbolism/meaning of the bow in historical and modern contexts.
The discussion ties art, material culture, and social meaning — showing how historical motifs continue to provoke thought in present-day design and identity.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/nov/21/an-elizabethan-power-move-with-bows
5. Manchester Art Fair Opens This Weekend
The Manchester Art Fair 2025 runs from November 21 to 23 at Manchester Central, featuring over 180 exhibitors and 600 artists.
It’s one of the UK’s major contemporary art fairs — a key moment for selling, discovering new talent, and getting a pulse on the UK art market right now.
https://www.manchesterartfair.co.uk/
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