Organizer Information

The Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS) is a leading UK-based, not-for-profit Community Interest Company that administers intellectual property rights, including Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) and copyright, for nearly 2,000 artists and estates. Their membership includes iconic figures such as Lucian Freud, Barbara Hepworth, and Cecily Brown. As a CIC, ACS reinvests its surplus income back into the artistic community through bursaries, charities, and prizes like the Studio Prize to support artists at critical stages of their careers.

Title & Description

The Artists’ Collecting Society Studio Prize 2026.

Now in its tenth year, this prestigious prize was established to alleviate the economic challenges faced by artists immediately following their graduation. The prize is designed to provide the financial stability needed for a creator to focus entirely on their practice by helping to secure a professional workspace. For the fourth consecutive year, ACS has partnered with Gurr Johns International to offer finalists a high-profile group exhibition in their St James’s gallery in London.

Category

Visual Arts (including Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Collage, Tapestry, Ceramics, and Glassware).

Eligibility:

  • Nationality: Must be a national of the UK, EEA, Australia, or New Zealand.
  • Education: Must be a current undergraduate or postgraduate student on an accredited art course about to graduate, OR a graduate from such a course within the last four years.
  • Practice: Open to artists working in traditional and contemporary visual media.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Grand Prize: £6,000 to be used toward the cost of an artist’s studio in any UK city of the winner’s choice.
  • Exhibition Opportunity: Finalists will be invited to participate in a group exhibition at the Gurr Johns St James’s gallery in mid-September 2026.
  • Prestige: The prize is judged by a distinguished panel, including Sir Gabriele Finaldi (Director of the National Gallery) and David Dawson (Director of the Lucian Freud Archive).

Application Fee

There is no fee to apply.

Application Requirements:

  • Personal Statement: A 1,000–2,000 word statement explaining why you are applying and how the prize will impact your career.
  • Practice Statement: A concise 250-word description of your artistic practice.
  • Portfolio: A single PDF featuring 15–20 high-quality images of your work.
  • CV: A single-page Artist CV included within the portfolio PDF.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official entry portal on the ACS website: artistscollectingsociety.org/acs-studio-prize.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: 30 June 2026.
  • Finalist Exhibition: Mid-September 2026.

Location

UK-wide (The prize funds a studio in any UK city of the winner's choice).

Additional Details

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the official "Guide to Applying" on the ACS website to ensure their statements and portfolios align with the judges' expectations. All participants must agree to the ACS Terms and Conditions regarding intellectual property and prize disbursement.

Contact Information: