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

Aug 5, 2025

Information

Photography 4 Humanity

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Climate justice

Reward

5,000 $
Online Exhibition

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

All images must have been taken within between August 1, 2024 and August 5, 2025

Deadline

Aug 14, 2025

Information

Portrait Society of America - Future Generation

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Sculpture

Reward

1,200 $
800 $
400 $
200 $

Location

Tallahassee
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Born between 2000 (included) and 2007 (included)

Deadline

Aug 22, 2025

Information

Lucie Photo Book Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography / Curatorial
Theme: Photography books

Reward

3,000 $
2,000 $

Location

Los Angeles
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Sep 1, 2025

Information

Lucie Scholarship Program

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

Fine Art Professional: 3,000 $
Fine Art Emerging: 1,000 $
Documentary Professional: 3,000 $
Documentary Emerging: 1,000 $

Location

Los Angeles
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Sep 1, 2025

Information

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Aaron Siskind Award for Photography

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Still Photo-based Media

Reward

2 x: 25,000 $

Location

Richmond
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Resident of United States of America
Nationality: American

Deadline

Sep 5, 2025

Information

Aperture PhotoBook Awards

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Photo book

Reward

10,000 $
Exhibition

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Sep 7, 2025

Information

Gibbes Museum of Art - Contemporary Southern Art Prize

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

Reward

10,000 $ + Museum Exhibition

Location

Charleston
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Alabama (US), Arkansas (US), Florida (US), Georgia (US), Kentucky (US), Louisiana (US), Mississippi (US), North Carolina (US), South Carolina (US), Tennessee (US), Virginia (US), West Virginia (US)

Deadline

Sep 10, 2025

Information

Innovate Grants for Art + Photo

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

Reward

Grant to a Visual Artist: 1,800 $
Grant to a Photographer: 1,800 $

Location

Chicago
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Sep 15, 2025

Information

Artadia Award - Boston

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

Reward

3 x: 15,000 $
Marciano Artadia Award: 25,000 $

Location

Boston
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Massachusetts (US)
For artist who are based in Boston counties for at least two years prior to the application deadline

Deadline

Sep 16, 2025

Information

SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: A World of Light

Reward

2,500 $
1,000 $
1,000 $
500 $

Location

Bellingham
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.