Dezi Art Prize 2026: Unrestricted Grants for Visual Artists

Overview

The Dezi Art Prize is an international, juried open call providing unrestricted funding and platform visibility to emerging and early-career visual artists worldwide. The prize provides real monetary support with zero strings attached, giving artists total freedom over how they utilize their funds. Designed to remove traditional institutional barriers, the prize does not require formal art degrees, gallery representation, or prior exhibition history.

Awards

• 2 Grand Prize Winners: $1,000 USD unrestricted cash grant each, dedicated profile on Dezi website and social media, featured announcement post, and 1:1 career audit with the Dezi team
• Top 3 Finalists: Free 1:1 career consultation with the Dezi team
• 10 Named Finalists: Formally named on the official site, featured on Instagram, and included in press announcement

Key Dates

• Applications Open: July 15, 2026
• Early Bird Deadline ($20 Fee): August 1, 2026
• Final Application Deadline: September 10, 2026
• Jury Review Period: September 2026
• Winners & Finalists Announced: October 10, 2026
• Career Consultations Delivered: Within 60 days post-announcement

Eligibility

Open globally to artists 18 or older. Designed for emerging, early-career, recent BFA/MFA/diploma graduates, and self-taught artists. No formal art degrees, gallery representation, or prior exhibition history required. One entry per artist per grant cycle.

Eligible Media

• Painting & Drawing
• Sculpture
• Filmmaking
• Photography
• Design
• UI/UX Design
• 2D/3D Animation
• Fashion
• Fiber & Material Arts

Application Fee

• Standard Entry Fee: $30 USD (flat fee, no added processing charges)
• Early Bird Discount: $20 USD for applications completed by August 1, 2026
• Waivers: Student discounts and hardship waivers evaluated case-by-case upon request via email ([email protected])

How to Apply

• Upload your work: Up to 5 images or video links, each with a title, medium, year, and short description
• Add your statements: A short artist statement with bio and your pitch for what you would do with the grant
• Apply and submit: Review everything, pay at checkout, and send your application

Judging & Rights

An independent jury of working arts professionals, curators, gallerists, and practicing artists reviews every submission on four equally weighted criteria: quality of work (craft, execution, and command of medium), originality and point of view (distinct voice and fresh perspective), artist statement clarity, and pitch strength. Artists retain 100% full copyright ownership of their work. Winners are asked to credit the Dezi Art Prize on new work created with the grant and share finished projects within one year for potential inclusion in future Dezi exhibitions.