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

July 15, 2025

Information

Joseph and Anna Fassbender Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Drawing / Graphic

Reward

1,500 € + Exhibition

Location

Brühl
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Germany

Deadline

July 18, 2025

Information

Aichacher Kunstpreis

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

Reward

2,500 € + Exhibition
500 €

Location

Aichach
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Bayern (DE)

Deadline

July 31, 2025

Information

29th Bremen Award for Video Art

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Video

Reward

Prizes in total of: 10,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Bremen
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
Artists from German-speaking countries and Bremen/Bremerhaven's twin cities are invited to take part

Deadline

Aug 10, 2025

Information

3rd Ingolstadt Art Prize of the Ingolstadt Lions Club

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

Reward

2,500 €
1,000 €
Audience Award: 500 €

Location

Ingolstadt
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Bayern (DE)
BBK Oberbayern Nord and Ingolstadt e.V. artists as well as with a current residence or studio in the districts and sub-districts of the city of Ingolstadt

Deadline

Aug 31, 2025

Information

Buxtehuder Kunstück

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

Reward

2,000 € + 10,000 € budget for the realisation

Location

Buxtehude
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Hamburg (DE)

Deadline

Aug 31, 2025

Information

Ennepe-Ruhr Art Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Installation / Sculpture
Theme: Licht und Schatten

Reward

3 x: 1,500 € + Exhibition

Location

Schwelm
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born from 2000 (included)
Resident of Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE)
For artists with a personal connection to the Ennepe-Ruhr district

Deadline

Aug 31, 2025

Information

Maria Sibylla Merian Prize

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

Reward

2 x 7,500 € for a printed work

Location

Wiesbaden
Germany

Eligibility conditions

For female artists and natural scientists

Deadline

Nov 15, 2025

Information

5th Art Prize of the Protestant Church of Württemberg

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

Reward

10,000 € + 10,000 € budget + Exhibition
3 x: 1,000 € + Presentation

Location

Stuttgart
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Germany

Deadline

Anytime

Information

Förderpreis der Stadt Konstanz

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

Reward

2,000 €

Location

Konstanz
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1984 (included) and 2001 (included)
Resident of Baden-Württemberg (DE)
Bezug zum Landkreis Konstanz

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.