MAC needs your chairs!
19 Jan 2026News Story
Transform your pre-loved chair into art.
We invite you to submit your preloved chair to The Final Bid, a unique artwork and exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Pinsky, opening at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in summer 2026.
Your chair will become part of an interactive bidding platform within the exhibition. Visitors will be invited to place bids on pre-loved chairs collected through this open call. With each new bid, a chair’s position will change as it hangs from the gallery ceiling: the higher the bid, the higher the chair will rise, forming a kinetic sculpture.
Using the chair as a universal, everyday object, Pinsky draws attention to the often-overlooked environmental cost of manufactured goods, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Temporarily interrupting the cycle of reuse, the chairs pause as aesthetic forms before moving on to new homes. While the exhibition highlights the creative and sustainable potential of reimagining preloved objects, it also provides a practical opportunity for you to sell your old chair.
What we're looking for
Every chair has potential, but we're especially interested in:
- Distinctive designs – unique styles, bold colours, or original patterns
- Chairs with stories – pieces with personal history, special memories, or meaning
- Variety – dining chairs, office chairs, vintage finds, contemporary pieces
FAQs
How can I submit a chair?
To submit your chair for consideration, please fill out our online submission form at the bottom of this page.
Submission deadline: 12pm, Sun 1 March 2026
What information will I have to provide?
- Your name
- Your location
- A short paragraph about you, your chair and its history (100 words max.)
- Year of production (can be approximate)
- Brand (if known)
- Material
- Dimensions (height x width x depth) in cm
- Attach one image (JPEG or PNG) of the chair you are submitting.
What type of chairs can I submit?
- Distinctive designs – unique styles, bold colours, or original patterns
- Chairs with stories – pieces with personal history, special memories, or meaning
- Variety – dining chairs, office chairs, vintage finds, contemporary pieces
Please note, we will not be accepting armchairs, benches, stools etc.
How many submissions can I make?
You are limited to submitting three chairs per person for consideration. If you are submitting multiple chairs, they must be different in design (non-identical).
Am I eligible to apply?
We welcome applications from UK residents. Please note, chairs will have to be delivered to Midlands Arts Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B12 9QH. Transportation of the chair to Midlands Arts Centre is the chair donor’s responsibility and at their own cost.
Submissions must be made by those aged 18+.
When is The Final Bid exhibition open?
The exhibition will be open at MAC from Sat 25 July - Sun 4 October 2026.
Will I get my chair back?
The chair will be purchased and given to the highest bidder at the end of the exhibition.
If your chair is not bid on, purchased or claimed by the highest bidder after the exhibition closes, you can either choose to collect it or request that MAC disposes of it sustainably (i.e. by recycling or donating your chair to charity).
What happens to the proceeds of my chair?
If your chair has been bid on and sold during the exhibition, when the exhibition closes you can choose where the proceeds go:
- Support MAC’s work: As a registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to deliver life-changing creative opportunities within our community. By donating the proceeds of your chair, you’ll help us to reach more people who might not otherwise have access to the arts - funding more projects that spark creativity and build connections.
- You are also welcome to have the proceeds from your chair paid directly to you.
When will I find out if my chair has been selected for The Final Bid exhibition?
We will contact all successful submissions by Thu 30 April 2026.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to unsuccessful submissions.
How to apply
To submit your chair for consideration, please fill out our online submission form below.
Submission deadline: 12pm, Sun 1 March 2026
Before submitting, please ensure you have read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section above. To navigate this section, you can click the plus icon (+) beside each title to find out more.
The data collected through our submission form will be processed and held in accordance to our Privacy Policy. We will not share your personal information and it will only be used to contact successful submissions.
The Final Bid was commissioned by the Draiflessen Collection, Germany. It is the first time this installation will be shown in the UK.
Kindly supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery and Arts Council England.
