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
  • Search and restrictions filters
  • Personalized recommendation
  • Deadline reminders and agenda
  • Monthly cancellable

Deadline

Oct 15, 2025

Information

Henki Art Prize

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

Reward

500 $
150 $
Online Exhibition

Location

San Diego
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Oct 31, 2025

Information

The Homiens Art Prize

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

Reward

3 x: 1,000 $ + Online Exhibition + Letter of Recommendation + Interview
12 Finalists: Online Exhibition

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 1, 2025

Information

Artadia Award - Houston

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

Reward

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

Location

Houston
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Texas (US)
Any artist who lived in Houston for at least two years prior to the application deadline

Deadline

Nov 1, 2025

Information

ArtFields Competition

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

Reward

50,000 $ + Exhibition
25,000 $
12,500 $
2,000 $

Location

South Carolina
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

Nov 5, 2025

Information

Catholic Art Institute - Sacred Art Competition

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Printmaking / Sculpture / Textile Art
Theme: Sacred Art

Reward

2,500 $ + Exhibition
750 $
250 $

Location

Chicago
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 11, 2025

Information

Hopper Prize

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

Reward

2 x: 4,500 $
4 x: 1,000 $

Location

Dover
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 15, 2025

Information

8th Annual Ricciardi Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Curatorial
Theme: Article on a drawing topic

Reward

5,000 $

Location

New York
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1985 (included) and 2007 (included)

Deadline

Dec 11, 2025

Information

Innovate Grants for Art + Photo

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

Reward

Art: 1,800 $
Photography: 1,800 $

Location

Chicago
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 / Printmaking / 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.