Opportunities / Awards

Awards for Artists

Current awards for artists — updated regularly with deadlines, funding, and eligibility across every medium.

Lakeland Arts Association

Florida Art Masters 2026: Live Portrait Competition

Lakeland, FL· National

Award: Winner receives a $5,000 portrait commission; total prize package is stated as over $5,000CLOSING SOON: AUG 31, 2026

awardApp Fee: $25Duration: Four-hour competition heats; competition dates late September through October

• Who Can Apply: Artists age 18 or older anywhere in the United States, working in non-digital media
• The Focus: A live portrait-painting competition with four preliminary heats and a Grand Finale in Lakeland, Florida
• The Funding: The winner receives a $5,000 portrait commission; the total prize package is stated as over $5,000. Entry is $25, and no travel or participation stipend is stated.
• Key Requirements: Submit one required portrait, up to two additional artworks, an artist statement, and website or social-media links

Details

New American Paintings

New American Paintings - Northeast Competition

Boston, MA

CLOSING SOON: AUG 31, 2026

awardApp Fee: $65

• Who Can Apply: Painters residing in CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, or VT
• The Focus: Juried competition for a four-page feature in New American Paintings magazine
• The Funding: The forty winners of each competition receive a four-page, full-color spread in New American Paintings.. Four-page, full-color spread in the publication; no cash prize
• Key Requirements: Submit up to 4 images of work; create account on organization's website; pay $65 application fee

Nick Ackerman

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Ten Moir Gallery

The Elements Art Competition & Exhibition

Award: Overall Winner: $150 cash prizeCLOSING SOON: AUG 31, 2026

awardApp Fee: $18

• Who Can Apply: Artists age 18 and older worldwide; all visual media are accepted.
• The Focus: Visual interpretations of earth, water, fire, and air in physical, symbolic, or emotional forms.
• The Funding: Entry fees range from $18 for two images to $55 for six to ten images. The overall winner receives $150 cash plus promotional benefits; category winners and finalists receive non-cash benefits.
• Key Requirements: Complete the entry form and upload JPG or PNG artwork files under 5 MB, with a maximum dimension of 2,000 pixels.

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Fusion Art

Animal Kingdom 2026 Art Competition

Organization based in Santa Fe, NM· Global

Award: Cash prizes for Best in Show winners in each category (Traditional, Digital & Photography, and 3-Dimensional); or complimentary one-year membership to Fusion Artist's Members GalleryCLOSING SOON: SEP 1, 2026

awardApp Fee: $25Dates: September 5–October 4, 2026

• Who Can Apply: Artists worldwide age 18 or older, at any experience level, working in eligible 2D, photography/digital, or 3D media
• The Focus: Representational or abstract art and photography depicting domestic or wild animals on land, in the sea, or in the air
• The Funding: Best in Show winners in eligible categories receive an unspecified cash prize or may choose a one-year Fusion Artist's Members Gallery membership. Entry is $25 for 1–2 images or $40 for up to 5.
• Key Requirements: Submit 1–5 images through the linked Submittable process; 3D entries require front, back, and side views; agree to the official competition rules and pay the nonrefundable entry fee

Details

Ohio Arts Council

Individual Excellence Awards

Columbus, OH

Award: $5,000CLOSING SOON: SEP 1, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Creative artists over 18 who have been Ohio residents for at least one year are eligible; students are excluded.
• The Focus: This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments and the exceptional merit of an Ohio artist's past body of work. It provides resources to experiment, develop skills, and advance careers.
• The Funding: This program provides a fixed award of $5,000 with no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Applications are reviewed anonymously and require work samples, a narrative statement, and a philosophy statement without any identifying information.

Donald Black Jr

Details

Monoline Design Awards

Monoline Design Awards 2026

Organization based in Chino Hills· Global

Award: Two Design of the Year distinctions—one Professional and one Experimental—receive $300 each.CLOSING SOON: SEP 10, 2026

awardApp Fee: $35

• Who Can Apply: Professional designers, studios, agencies, artists, illustrators, makers, brands, educators, students, researchers, and other creative practitioners worldwide
• The Focus: Clear visual ideas and original work across Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, and Experimental practice
• The Funding: Two Design of the Year distinctions—one Professional and one Experimental—receive $300 each. Entry fees range from $35 to $60 by submission date.
• Key Requirements: Submit project details, strong images with captions, a design statement, context and objectives, outcomes, and complete credits; disclose AI assistance; entrants must hold the necessary rights

Details

PhotoVogue

Brave New Visions: Creativity as Rebellion - A Global Open Call

Award: A total of $12,000 in grants will be awarded to three artists: Outstanding Vision Grant ($6,000), Vision Grant ($4,000), and Rising Voice Grant ($2,000).CLOSING SOON: SEP 11, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Open to photographers and video makers aged 18+ from around the world.
• The Focus: This global open call seeks work that engages with the present through original and compelling visual storytelling. Artists are invited to create images that resist indifference and make something felt.
• The Funding: A total of $12,000 in grants will be awarded to three artists, with no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Submit a series of up to 15 images, a 60-second video, or a multimedia project. AI-generated works are ineligible.

Kin Coedel

Details

Artadia

Artadia Awards - Boston

Boston, MA

Award: $15,000Deadline: SEP 15, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Visual artists living and working in Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, or Suffolk counties for at least two years.
• The Focus: This merit-based award recognizes visionary artists with unrestricted funds. It aims to provide financial support, exposure, and career-advancing network connections.
• The Funding: Three awardees receive unrestricted grants of $15,000 each, and there is no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Requires a portfolio of up to eight images or six minutes of video, a CV, and a 200-word artist statement.

Funlola Coker

Details

PhotoVogue

MENA Panorama: A Regional Open Call

Award: A total of $8,000 in grants will be awarded to three artists: Outstanding Vision Grant ($4,500), Vision Grant ($2,000), and Rising Voice Grant ($1,500).Deadline: SEP 24, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0Dates: 2027

• Who Can Apply: Open to artists aged 18+ from the Middle East and North Africa, including the diaspora.
• The Focus: This regional initiative champions diverse voices from MENA, showcasing the region's complexity, resilience, and varied visual languages. The call seeks work reflecting lived experiences, identity, and social realities on the artists' own terms.
• The Funding: A total of $8,000 in grants will be awarded to three artists, with no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Submit a series of up to 15 images, a 60-second video, or a multimedia project.

Details

Artadia

Artadia Awards - Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

Award: $15,000Deadline: OCT 1, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Visual artists who have lived and worked for two consecutive years in the eligible Atlanta-area counties.
• The Focus: This merit-based award provides unrestricted funds to recognize and support visionary artists at pivotal points in their careers. The program fosters a national network, facilitating career-advancing connections and exposure.
• The Funding: Three artists will receive unrestricted awards of $15,000 each, with no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Applicants must submit a CV, a 200-word artist statement, and up to eight work samples via Submittable.

Ayana Ross

Details

Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern

Open Call for TALENTE münchen. Masters of the Future 2027

Munich, Bavaria, Germany· Global

Award: Bavarian States Prize: €5,000, gold medal, certificate; Talente-Prize: catalogue entry and certificate (8 awards)Deadline: OCT 1, 2026

awardApp Fee: €0Duration: 5 daysDates: Mar 10, 2027 – Mar 14, 2027Travel Included

• Who Can Apply: International young talents in design (max 33 years old) or technology (max 35 years old); applicants exceeding age limit may apply up to 2 years after completing apprenticeship or studies
• The Focus: Showcasing exceptional handmade work in applied arts and technology by emerging craftspeople and designers
• The Funding: Bavarian States Prize: €5,000 plus gold medal and certificate; Talente-Prize: catalogue entry and certificate (8 awards); publicly funded exhibition space and partial transport coverage
• Key Requirements: Work must be handmade by the applicant; demonstrate formal or technical considerations and experiments showing something new and exceptional

Details

Artadia

Artadia Awards - Houston

Houston, TX

Award: $15,000Deadline: NOV 1, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Contemporary visual artists who have lived and worked in Harris County for at least two consecutive years are eligible.
• The Focus: This merit-based award recognizes visionary artists with unrestricted funds to support their practice. The program aims to provide significant financial support, exposure, and recognition within the contemporary art world.
• The Funding: Three artists will receive unrestricted awards of $15,000 each, with no application fee.
• Key Requirements: Applicants must submit work samples (images and/or video), a CV, and an artist statement of 200 words or less.

Ian Gerson

Details

The Nature Photography Contest

The Nature Photography Contest 2026

Award: €1000 for best photograph of the year; €100 for each category winner; trophy for best photographer of the yearDeadline: NOV 15, 2026

awardApp Fee: €10

• Who Can Apply: Open to professional and amateur photographers worldwide
• The Focus: Nature photography across 10 categories including landscapes, wildlife, macrophotography, underwater, birds, plant life, night world, environmental impact, sharing the planet, and funny nature
• The Funding: €1,000 for best photograph of the year; €100 for each category winner; trophy for best photographer of the year; one tree planted per participant
• Key Requirements: Register on the contest platform (Squirrel room), upload photographs to chosen categories, confirm participation; €10 per photograph submission fee

Details

The John Ruskin Prize

The 9th John Ruskin Prize: Not for Present Delight

Award: Prizes totalling £9,500 across four categories, with individual awards ranging from £1,000 to £3,000.Deadline: NOV 17, 2026

award

• Who Can Apply: Open to artists, designers, and makers aged 18+ of any nationality, both amateur and professional. Individuals and collectives may apply.
• The Focus: The prize theme 'Not for Present Delight' invites work exploring creation with an awareness of future consequences. It encourages reflection on how creative practices can embody forward-thinking intention, responsibility, and care.
• The Funding: Prizes total £9,500, including a £3,000 1st prize and specific awards for artists under 26 and mid-career artists.
• Key Requirements: Applicants must submit work made in the last 4 years digitally; all 2D and 3D media are welcome.

Details

Le Arti Orafe

Preziosa Young Design Competition 2027

Organization based in Florence· Global

Deadline: DEC 31, 2026

awardApp Fee: $0Cost to Attend: See detailsDates: Spring 2027 onwards

• Who Can Apply: International jewellery artists, goldsmiths, silversmiths, and designers under 35 with an established practice; current students and recent graduates are not eligible.
• The Focus: Contemporary jewellery design and craftsmanship, emphasizing material use and conceptual and technical innovation.
• The Funding: Entry is free. Selected artists join a travelling exhibition and catalogue and may receive partner prizes, including a Florence residency or Inhorgenta exhibition space. Selected artists pay shipping, insurance, and customs costs.
• Key Requirements: Online registration, CV, anonymous artist statement, and images and captions for five objects that meet the official technical specifications.

Details

Seattle Office of Arts & Culture

Portable Works Collection Purchase

Organization based in Seattle· Multi-National

Award: $5,000 USDDeadline: Rolling

awardApp Fee: $0

• Who Can Apply: Professional artists residing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or British Columbia, Canada.
• The Focus: This program acquires existing 2D artworks for the city's public collection. It aims to showcase regional talent within municipal buildings for public enjoyment.
• The Funding: The city purchases artworks at market value, typically not exceeding $5,000 USD per piece.
• Key Requirements: Applicants submit up to 5 available artworks with their title, medium, dimensions, and price.

Details

Ars Electronica

Prix Ars Electronica u19 - create your world

Award: Up to €10,000Deadline: TBD

awardApp Fee: €0

• Who Can Apply: This international competition is for young people up to age 19; specific eligibility details are not listed on the main program page.
• The Focus: This long-running media art competition seeks forward-looking projects exploring the interface of art, technology, and society. It serves as a trend barometer for the future of digital and media arts.
• The Funding: Winners receive a Golden Nica trophy, a prize of up to €10,000, and are featured at the Ars Electronica Festival.
• Key Requirements: Application requirements are not specified; please visit the program website for details.

Samuel Brunner, David Chencean, Georg Kotzian, Michal Sysel

Details