Top Art Competitions 2024/2025

Discover current open calls for national and international art competitions.

Log in to see all current opportunities

  • clear overview of the best grants, prizes, residences
  • search and restrictions filters
  • personalized recommendation
  • deadline reminders and agenda
  • monthly cancellable

Deadline

Dec 16, 2024

Information

Be Still Media Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Graphic / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: What Makes Us Human?

Reward

6,000 $
4,000 $
3,000 $
2,000 $

Location

n.a.
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Dec 31, 2024

Information

Anna Rabinowitz Award

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Sound / Literature / Video / Performance
Theme: Combining poetry and any other art or discipline

Reward

1,000 $

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Resident of United States of America

Deadline

Jan 10, 2025

Information

UC Berkeley - South Asia Artist Prize

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

Reward

1,500 $

Location

Berkeley
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Nationality: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
Applicants must have filed their Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree between September 2, 2023 and September 1, 2024 at an accredited school in North America or Europe.

Deadline

Jan 10, 2025

Information

The Aperture Portfolio Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

5,000 $ + 1,000 $ gift card Mpb.com
Presentation in NYC
1,000 $ + Editorial feature

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 15, 2025

Information

SDN - ZEKE Award for Systemic Change

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Threat to democracy

Reward

2,500 $

Location

Concord
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 15, 2025

Information

SDN - ZEKE Award for Documentary Photography

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Themes that affect the global community

Reward

2,500 $

Location

Concord
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Jan 15, 2025

Information

South Arts - The Southern Prize

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

Reward

Southern Prize: 25,000 $
Finalist Prize: 10,000 $
9 x Fellowship: 5,000 $

Location

Atlanta
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Alabama (US), Florida (US), Georgia (US), Kentucky (US), Louisiana (US), Mississippi (US), North Carolina (US), South Carolina (US), Tennessee (US)

Deadline

Jan 31, 2025

Information

The Homiens Art Prize

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

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Feb 16, 2025

Information

Fine Art Photography - Contest

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Fine Art Photography

Reward

3,000 $
2,000 $

Location

n.a.
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Anytime

Information

Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund

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

Reward

10,000 $

Location

San Jose
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Creators who have been directly affected by the 2022 invasion of Ukraine

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.