Organizer Information
The Gibbes Museum of Art, located in Charleston, South Carolina, traces its origins to the Carolina Art Association, founded in 1858; the Gibbes Memorial Art Gallery building opened in 1905, named for benefactor James Shoolbred Gibbes, Sr. The museum holds a permanent collection of over 7,000 works, including paintings, miniature portraits, works on paper, photographs, Charleston-made furniture and silver, decorative art objects, and sculpture, with a historical focus on American art of the South. The Gibbes' property is co-owned by the City of Charleston and the Carolina Art Association, the nonprofit that owns the art collection. The 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art is presented by Society 1858, a group of young professionals who support the Gibbes Museum with social and educational programming for up-and-coming art patrons — the prize's name honors the founding year of the Carolina Art Association.
Title & Description
1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art (2026)
The Gibbes Museum of Art and Society 1858's Prize for Contemporary Southern Art is awarded annually to an artist whose work contributes to a new understanding of art in the South. The Prize recognizes the highest level of artistic achievement and welcomes applications from artists working across any media. Previous winners have gone on to receive awards from the Joan Mitchell Fellowship, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, and have had their work acquired into the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Gibbes Museum of Art itself.
Theme
Contemporary Southern art — work that contributes to a new understanding of art in the American South. Open to any media, subject, or style within that framework.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Contemporary Art
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Video Art
- Mixed Media
Eligibility
- Artists must reside in, work in, or be from one of the following southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia
- All submitted artwork must be original to the artist in concept, design, and execution
- Applicants must submit through the official website (1858prize.org) using the SlideRoom submission management program; no late or incomplete submissions are accepted
Program Benefits & Awards
- Recognition as the recipient of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art, along with public announcement following the October 2026 notification
- Previous winners have subsequently received awards from the Joan Mitchell Fellowship, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
- Winning artists' work has been received into the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Gibbes Museum of Art
- Specific cash award amount, if any, is not stated in the source
Application Fee
$35 non-refundable entry fee
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 14 September 2026
- Winner and Finalists Notified: October 2026
Location
Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Additional Details
- All submissions are reviewed by a panel of visual arts professionals, Society 1858 representatives, and Gibbes Museum of Art staff members
- Technical support during submission is available through SlideRoom (support@slideroom.com); general Prize questions can be directed to the Gibbes Museum of Art (1858prize@gibbesmuseum.org)
- More information about Society 1858 is available via the Gibbes Museum's membership page