Spike Island is excited to announce a series of new artist commissions as part of Spike Island 50, in partnership with and kindly supported by Bristol-based brewing company Left Handed Giant.

Three Spike Island Studio Artists will be commissioned to make an artwork for a custom-brewed beer by Left Handed Giant, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Artspace Bristol – now known as Spike Island.

Aptly named, ‘New Edition’, the beer will have three limited-edition labels featuring the newly commissioned artworks. The commissions will be launched in Spring 2026 as part of Spike Island Open Studios 2026.

Selected artists will receive a fee of £350 and a case of the beer with their printed artwork.

The commissioned artists will be selected by a committee of Spike Island and Left Handed Giant staff members.

ELIGIBILITY 

This opportunity is open to all current Spike Island Studio Artists, including Graduate Fellows and studio sublets. Submissions can comprise of new and/or existing artworks.

The final artwork should be 212mm wide x 126mm tall (or to that ratio) and provided in a CMYK colour format with a minimum resolution of 300dpi.

You do not have to create your artwork in a digital format, all mediums are welcome. Submissions can be a high-resolution scan or digital photograph of physical artworks.

You can download the full artwork design guide from the information panel on this page.

APPLICATION
Applicants should submit the following via the form below:

• Biography (250 words max)
• Concept proposal – a short description of what you’d like to create or of an existing artwork you’d like to submit (250 words max)
• Illustrative material – up to 3 relevant images or sketches that provide an indication of what the final artwork will look like
• Website link (if available)

Deadline for applications: Monday 5 January 2026, 9am

ABOUT LEFT HANDED GIANT

Left Handed Giant are a Bristol-based brewing company, with six premises across the city. We make a variety of styles from our two brewery sites based in Bristol, one at our taproom in St Philips, and one at our brewpub in the heart of the city.

lefthandedgiant.com