Top Art Competitions 2025

Discover current open calls for national and international art competitions.

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  • Clear overview of the best grants, prizes, residences
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  • Deadline reminders and agenda
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Deadline

Jan 20, 2025

Information

Kunstpreis - Kulturstiftung der Sparkasse Karlsruhe

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Graphic
Theme: Perspektive - Retrospektive

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition
3,000 € + Exhibition
2,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Karlsruhe
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students

Deadline

Jan 21, 2025

Information

Prince Claus Seed Awards

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Drawing / Literature / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: New wave of ideas, perspectives, and energy to the force of culture

Reward

5,000 €

Location

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Eligibility conditions

For artists in the early and exploratory stages of their career and coming from and be living and working Prince Claus Fund eligible countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

Deadline

Jan 24, 2025

Information

Glover Prize - Landscape Painting

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting
Theme: Landscape painting

Reward

80,000 AUD
3,000 AUD
500 AUD
500 AUD

Location

Evandale
Australia

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 24, 2025

Information

O ian 'heteealo ssddtnixprrcmrp

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

2,500 € + Exhibition

Location

Nianpt
France

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Île-de-France (FR)
Artists based in Pantin (FR)

Deadline

Jan 27, 2025

Information

O rilaraetanatabasnrnrdtg awti

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing
Theme: ndg in Pgiwndaainrta

Reward

16,000 €
4 x: 8,000 €

Location

Aneinv
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1985 (included) and 2006 (included)
Resident of Austria, Germany, Slovenia

Deadline

Jan 28, 2025

Information

Iseetf ictprryoei otw liaoouuan trsnlrt ans

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing
Theme: oltoaeWcrsr

Reward

Winsor & Newton Award: 3,000 £ + Exhibition
Winsor & Newton Product Prize: 1,000 £ + Exhibition
Leathersellers' Prize: 1,000 £ + Exhibition
President’s Choice Award: 750 £

Location

Londno
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 28, 2025

Information

Frnzttythomsrpbhioyria ar-eeosaai p iymorg lpghios ct

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

1,000 £ + Exhibition
500 £ + Exhibition
250 £ + Exhibition

Location

Amimhnrbig
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

Iipraiezlksnkow

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

10,000 €

Location

Bonn
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Baden-Württemberg (DE)
Graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

eh eioet pmzrahsnrti

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

6 Prizes: 500 $ + Exhibition + Interview + Letter of Recommendation
12 Finalists: Exhibition

Location

Ynwkre o
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

-catespind

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

50,000 CHF + Exhibition at Kunsthalle Bern

Location

Nbre
Switzerland

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1985 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Bern (CH)

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

Partclr oot iaantiaepihrpzrhgopniot

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: rirotatP

Reward

30,000 $ + $20,000 worth of equipment
Exhibition

Location

Benrcaar
Australia

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Australia
Nationality: Australian

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

Oriusuncpflti ireepgrfdzfr

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Sculpture

Reward

5,000 €

Location

Eknolbz
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1985 (included) and 2007 (included)
For international artists who are studying or have studied at a German art academy or art college.

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

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Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Curatorial

Reward

5,000 CAD + Mentorship for an Exhibition

Location

Pguehl
Canada

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1995 (included) and 2006 (included)
Resident of Canada
Nationality: Canadian

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

N osmrztm- iacepsan aup&gnaga ri

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: c ApUsnomtriigts

Reward

Feature in Magazine

Location

Vaenin
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1985 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Austria, Germany

Deadline

Feb 4, 2025

Information

Asahl5ut aob2 alw ro2do0t p

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

2,500 $ + Interview + Feature in AAP Magazine
1,000 $ + Feature in AAP Magazine
750 $ + Feature in AAP Magazine
500 $ + Feature in AAP Magazine
250 $ + Feature in AAP Magazine

Location

Wlsyotwdhlo eo
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Art Competitions – Prizes, recognition and exposure

Art competitions are great opportunities for artists, offering cash prizes along with the rewards of exposure and recognition. By validating your artistic practice, they increase your visibility in the art world. Art competitions can serve as a catalyst that accelerates an artist's progress to success. Visit our website to view the best current art competitions.

Are you looking for open calls for art competitions in a specific country or city? Check our carefully chosen selections:
FAQs: Art Competitions

Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding art competitions here:

What is an art competition?

Art competitions are events where artists are invited to submit their work based on a particular theme or category. Organized by a variety of entities such as institutions, galleries, or other art organizations, these competitions aim to identify, acknowledge, and support talented artists. A panel of judges typically awards prizes, exhibitions, publications, or other forms of recognition to the best entries. Winning art competitions offers artists crucial exposure and recognition.

What are typical prizes of art competitions?

Art competitions offer artists a variety of prizes. These can range from cash awards, to opportunities in order to exhibit works and gain exposure. Some competitions also offer artist residencies, scholarships, as well as art supplies or equipment as prizes. Winners may have their work featured in a catalog, an art magazine, or on an online platform, increasing recognition and exposure. Ultimately, winning awards become a valuable addition to an artist's resume.

The list of art competitions on our website specifies in each case clearly what the “prize“ entails.

How does the judging process work?

The jury panel generally consists of a number of distinguished persons from the art world, who, over the course of several rounds, individually decide which applications to eliminate or pass on to the next rounds. Shortlisted works are then subjected to further scrutiny. The process concludes with the panel collectively deciding on the winners.

How do I apply for an art competition?

Most open calls for art competitions require artists to submit a comprehensive application, including a portfolio, an artist statement, and a resume. The number of applicants for art competitions is often high, especially for the more prestigious prizes. Therefore, your application needs be impactful, clear, straightforward, and inviting to review.

Do you need help in these matters? Check our online courses “How to make a portfolio” and “How to write an artists statement” which serve as step-by-step guides giving you all the tools you need to build a strong application for art competitions.