Visual Art Open Prize
Location
International, with a finalist exhibition in London (Minster Building)
Open to
Artists aged 16 or over
Amateur and professional visual artists working in accepted media (painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, digital art).
Application Fee
Standard: £20 for first artwork, then £10 per additional (up to 5)
Student Artist & Art Educator: £8 for first, then £6 per additional (proof of status required)
What’s Provided
£10,000 total prize fund
Overall winner gets £2,000, a solo show in London, VAA Premium Annual Membership, mentorship, and Momentum Programme support.
Finalists exhibit their work at the Minster Building, London.
All entrants receive: featured exposure on social media, email promotion to VAA’s network, a certificate of achievement.
What the Artist Must Cover
Entry fee.
If selected as a finalist and your work requires framing, you must arrange and pay for framing.
Delivery and collection of artworks for the exhibition; also insurance during transit and while exhibited.
If a work sells at the exhibition, a 40% commission applies.
Duration
Submission deadline: 18 December 2025
Judging Phases: longlist announced July 2026; shortlist August 2026; winners announced October 2026.
Exhibition period: Finalists’ work must be available for the 2026–2027 VAO exhibition.
Deadline
18 December 2025
Other Notes
Artists may submit up to 5 artworks, and each artwork can have up to 5 images.
AI-generated artwork is not eligible.
There is a judging panel made up of curators, artists, critics, and other art professionals; judging is anonymous (they don’t see artist names).
If selected, artists are responsible for framing, transport, and insurance.
Under-18s need written authorisation from a legal guardian.
