THE POSTCARD SHOW 2026
For those of you who are new to The Postcard Show, the postcards are all 6 x 4 inch wooden boards which artists are invited to create an artwork on. Each board costs £10 and all of the artworks created are priced at £50, with £5 going to charity and the rest going back to the artist if the work is sold. Each piece is displayed anonymously so buyers don’t know who’s work is who’s until they buy it.
Just like before, there isn’t a theme to the show and we encourage both emerging and established artists to get creative! We've had an incredible collection of styles and techniques on display in previous years and are really excited to see what artists come up with this time around.
The show was a huge success last year with more than 140 artworks sold and £2000 raised for Charity, targets we’re aiming to beat this year with your help! It was amazing to see the variety and creativity of all the works on show and the whole collection was so well received by all who visited during the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Boards will be on sale at the Gallery during the dates given below, and will be available for purchase online soon! All boards must be registered and returned to us by 8 October 2026 - there will be a delivery box in the gallery in the weeks leading up to this date.
More information on registration and delivery of artworks and about the charity we will be supporting for 2026 will be released later this year - watch this space!
THE postcard SHOW returns to sixteen gallery.
AFter a fantastic year last year, it's back! artists of all levels and experience are invited to take part in making a postcard size artwork to be displayed and for sale during our two week show.
This year's Exhibition will run from 9 - 20 October to coincide with the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
board purchase dates
Artwork boards are available for purchase from the gallery at select times this year. You can find them on the following dates:
15 january – 1 february
24 April – 5 May
14 – 26 august
register your artwork
All artworks must be registered before being returned to us – Registration will be open from August on this page!
Please register all your artworks here before delivering them back to the gallery for the exhibition.
This is a simple process of filling this short form, which helps us keep track of all the boards, who the artists are, and makes sure you get paid when you sell!
Complete the form for each board entry.
You only need to put your account details once, but make sure your name and the board number is on each entry.
All your details are stored securely
For further help, read our guidelines and FAQ below
This is the bank account you would like to be paid into should your artwork sell
You will find this on the back of your board in the top right corner
If you would like to, you can choose to donate the entire £50 to our supported charity
guidelines and faq
There is no theme! The only constraint is that your work must be contained within the board.
You can use any medium you like. Last year this ranged from oil paints and pastels to watercolours, to photography and ceramics. Let your creativity drive you!
Boards can be purchased from us at the gallery on the dates mentioned here. And if you are unable to collect one, you can purchase for delivery - info to come.
Depending on what medium you are using, you can choose to prime, stick-onto or work directly on the board. As long as the finished piece is constrained within the dimensions of the board, there is no restriction on what mediums you can use!
You can only use the boards from this year. All entered boards must have the 2026 label on to be included in the exhibition.
Yes, boards must be purchased from us. If a board is submitted without the 2026 Sixteen Gallery label on, it will not be valid for inclusion in the exhibition.
Once you have completed your artwork, before you either drop-off or send your board back to us please fill out the registration form. This streamlines our process, making sure that we have all the details for your artwork and allowing us to have your account details ready if your work sells.
The form is simple and quick, please fill out one for each board you have using the board number on the back. Registration will open from April and you will find it on this page.
You can return your finished boards to us using our drop-off box in the gallery on the dates given here. Alternatively you can post them back to using the address shown above. Please take a moment to register your board before you return it.
All communication regarding the Postcard Exhibition will be through email. We will notify you this way if your work sells
The postcard artworks will be stuck onto the walls using velcro strip, unless the work is heavy / sculptural and will be placed onto plinths. Please bare this in mind when creating, and make sure artwork is secure if stuck to a board.
Any unsold work must be collected on or before the 21 October before 5pm. If you have not been notified that your work has sold, then you will need to collect it. Anything not collected will be disposed of.
If you are unable to make this date, or do not want your artwork back, please get in touch with us at: hello@sixteenonline.com
We have not yet confirmed the charity we are supporting for 2026, but we look forward to announcing this soon.
£5 of the sale of each board will go to our chosen supported charity. Some artists may choose to donate the entire £50 if their artwork sells. This is completely optional, and if you would like to, check the box when you register the board, or let us know if you decide later.