Now in its 13th year, Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) is a distinctive international visual arts competition and exhibition hosted in Wells, Somerset. Established in 2012 by a group of local artists with a dedication to enabling creative voices, WAC has grown into a highlight of the UK arts calendar, drawing submissions from around the world.

The setting for WAC is extraordinary: the exhibition takes place in and around Wells Cathedral, England’s first Gothic cathedral, with its serene stone architecture, soaring spaces, and cloisters offering both historic gravitas and atmospheric light.

Each year, artists working across a wide range of media—painting, print, drawing, photography, sculpture, installation, video and mixed media—are invited to submit their work. WAC has two primary formats: the Gallery Show, held within a specially built “white-wall” gallery in the Cathedral cloisters, and the Installation Show, where selected artists propose site-specific works for display inside the Cathedral or in its grounds.

WAC is significant not just as an exhibition but as a place where contemporary artistic practice meets history, community, and an ancient space; where emerging and established artists can both reach audiences in an inspiring environment.