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 31, 2025

Information

Kalinowski Prize

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

Diffring Prize for Sculpture

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Sculpture

Reward

5,000 €

Location

Koblenz
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

Feb 7, 2025

Information

FBZ Art Award

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Photography / Graphic / Installation / Sculpture
Theme: Mental Health

Reward

FBZ Art Award: 10,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Bochum
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Deadline

Feb 10, 2025

Information

BBA Artist Prize 2025

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

Reward

1. Prize: 1,000 €
2. Prize: 700 €
3. Prize: 500 €
Audience Award: 300 €

Location

Berlin
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Feb 10, 2025

Information

BBA Photography Prize 2025

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

1. Prize: 1,000 €
2. Prize: 700 €
3. Prize: 500 €
Audience Award: 300 €

Location

Berlin
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Feb 14, 2025

Information

Hanna-Nagel-Preis

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Video / Graphic / Sculpture

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Karlsruhe
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Born between 1949 (included) and 1985 (included)
Resident of Baden-Württemberg (DE)
Female artists based in Karlsruhe (DE)

Deadline

Feb 28, 2025

Information

Frechen Ceramics Award

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Ceramics / Ceramic
Theme: Ceramics

Reward

3,000 € + Exhibition
2,000 €
1,000 €

Location

Frechen
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Deadline

Feb 28, 2025

Information

August-Macke Award

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

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Meschede
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1998 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Germany

Deadline

Mar 25, 2025

Information

Iznang Young Talents Ceramics Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Ceramics
Theme: Ceramics: In Bewegung - in motion

Reward

3,000 €

Location

Moos
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Germany
For applicants who studied or started their career no more than 6 years ago

Deadline

Mar 26, 2025

Information

Lagois Photo Competition

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Was macht uns reich?

Reward

2,500 €
1,500 €

Location

Munich
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Germany

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.