Artadia Awards

Overview

Artadia Awards provide unrestricted financial support, exposure, and recognition to contemporary visual artists. Awards are open-call and free to apply. Awardees receive unrestricted funds and access to the Artadia Network for connections and resource sharing, including a dedicated webpage on Artadia's Artist Registry.

Key dates

• Los Angeles: Jan 1 – Feb 1, 2026
• Chicago: Feb 1 – March 1, 2026
• New York City: March 1 – April 1, 2026
• San Francisco Bay Area: May 1 – June 1, 2026
• 21c: June 15 – July 15, 2026
• Boston: Aug 15 – Sept 15, 2026
• Atlanta: Sept 1 – Oct 1, 2026
• Houston: Oct 1 – Nov 1, 2026

Eligibility

Applicants must be contemporary visual artists making work for presentation in a contemporary art context (museums, galleries, arts non-profits, public art). You must be currently living and working in the eligible county for at least two consecutive years prior to application, not enrolled in an art-related degree program or planning to attend one in the coming year, not related to Artadia staff or directors, and never received an Artadia award of $10,000 or more. Former finalists are eligible to apply. You must be available for a 45-minute virtual studio visit if selected as a finalist.

What to submit

Submit finished artworks only (not project proposals). Choose one submission option: (1) Up to 8 digital images (.jpg or .png); (2) Up to 8 images plus up to 3 minutes of video; or (3) Up to 6 minutes of time-based media only. Label files with simple numerical sequences (01, 02, 03, etc.). Include brief captions with media, dimensions, and year. Generative AI may be used as a tool but cannot replace human creativity; disclose if AI is a primary contributor.

Selection process

Round 1: A jury of three curators reviews all applications and determines six finalists. Round 2: A second jury conducts 45-minute virtual studio visits with each finalist. Final: Based on studio visits, three awardees receive unrestricted funds of $15,000 each (or $25,000 for the Marciano Artadia Award in Los Angeles). Finalists not chosen receive honorariums for their time and labor.

How to apply

Applications are submitted through Submittable only. Create a free Submittable account or use an existing one. Drafts can be saved but must be successfully submitted to be considered. Double-check that you have successfully uploaded all video or image samples. All applicants are notified by email regarding their application status and finalist determination.

Additional information

If you are enrolled in a long-term artist residency, you may only apply in the city where you permanently reside. Unless applying as a collaborative, you must be the sole conceptual author of submitted work; collaborators with shared authorship must be clearly identified and credited. You may use your Instagram account in place of a website if you don't have one.