Want to exhibit alongside Damien Hirst?

The housing charity Shelter has launched a nationwide competition offering budding artists and designers the chance to display their work alongside the biggest names in British art. They have invited 52 of the country’s top artists, photographers and designers - including Damien Hirst, Gerald Scarfe (see below) and Sir Terence Conran - to design a playing card for a unique exhibition as part of its award winning House of Cards campaign.

Launched in February this year, the TV and poster campaign depicts a collapsing house of playing cards to highlight the fragility of Britain’s housing market. The charity has held back one card and is now calling on the public to help complete the deck by creating the final card – the eight of clubs.

There are no restrictions or limitations to the way the card is designed - photography, sculptures, textiles, illustrations, street art or paintings are all welcome. The only rule is that it is an original work of art designed in a creative and interesting way. Entries should then be uploaded to Shelter’s microsite by Friday 21 August. The public will then have a week to vote on their favourite design before the top five will be put to painter, animation director and film-maker Simon Henwood who will choose the winner. 

The winning card will be hung alongside the others at the Haunch of Venison gallery in London’s Piccadilly, where the House of Cards exhibition which will run from 24–28 September. The winning artist will also attend an exclusive launch party on the opening night. Shelter’s chief executive Sam Younger says: “This competition is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see your work appear alongside the very best in British art and design and I’d encourage anyone with creativity and imagination to enter.” 

All of the works submitted can be viewed online, in a gallery of uploads here. If you do enter, be sure to drop back here and leave us a link to your work.