One of Oxford's leading art galleries is throwing open its doors to all-comers.

Modern Art Oxford, in Pembroke Street, which is staging the Oxford Open in January, is abolishing any critical criteria for selection on the provisos that the artist lives in or near the city and is over 18, and that any work should be able to fit into a space of one cubic metre.

Alex James, former Blur bassist and artist in residence at Oxford University's department of astrophysics, will be among those casting his eye over all the submissions and selecting his favourites.

Other guest selectors include artist Janette Parris and students from Oxford Community School, one of the gallery's partner schools.

MAO director Andrew Nairne said opening the exhibition to everybody was risky, but said he hoped it would make people think about why they liked some artwork and not others.

Mr Nairne said: "Four years ago, we had an exhibition called the Oxford Show for which we had up to 300 applications.

"From that a selection panel chose 27 artists - so we had to write to an awful lot of people telling them they had been unsuccessful.

"The danger of doing another selection panel is that we would have ended up with the same people.

"We thought it would be a good idea to do something which was a bit more risky."

The gallery is expecting at least 200 to 300 people to bring along their artwork to two submission days, between 8am and 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday, December 19 and 20.

All pieces that can be fitted will go on show. Then, each week, a guest selector will choose their favourites, which will go in a separate gallery, and a talk will be held about why they have been chosen.

Mr Nairne said: "We're seeking people to be innovative and thoughtful. You will walk into the gallery and it will be completely astonishing because there will be so many different things on show.

"We want people to think about why they are horrified by something but completely thrilled by something else.

"It's quite exciting and quite risky because we have no idea what the quality of the work will be - and we will probably end up hanging art on staircases and corridors if we have to."

The exhibition opens on January 12 and runs until February 17.

Mr James will be the first guest selector, on Tuesday, January 15.

He will talk about his choices at 5pm.

He said: "The Oxford Open is a truly open exhibition because it has no official selection panel.

"It raises a lot of questions about talent and creativity and I'm looking forward to taking part in the discussion."

For more information or an application pack, call 01865 722733 or visit www.modernartoxford.org.uk