Organizer Information
New York Art Competitions (NYAC) is a division of the Agora Group, dedicated to providing artists and photographers with opportunities for recognition and advancement through annual juried international competitions. The Agora Group traces its roots to Agora Gallery, founded in 1984 by artist-turned-gallerist Miki Stiles as Ariel Gallery in SoHo, later rebranded as Agora Gallery and relocated to Chelsea in 2002 under the leadership of Stiles' son. Today the group operates as a contemporary fine art gallery in Chelsea, alongside an artist marketing agency (AGI Fine Art) and an online fine art gallery (ARTmine), and hosts juried exhibitions including the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition and the Chelsea International Photography Competition (CIPC).
Title & Description
8th Chelsea International Photography Competition (CIPC)
The Chelsea International Photography Competition invites photographers worldwide, at any stage of their careers, to submit work for the chance to exhibit in one of Agora Gallery's New York spaces, located in the heart of the Chelsea art district. The competition offers prizes valued at over $55,000, including cash awards, exhibition opportunities, and promotional benefits for selected photographers.
Categories
- Photography
Eligibility
- Open to photographers worldwide, at any stage of their careers
- Two entry categories based on career status: Amateur (photographers who engage in photography for pleasure rather than financial benefit) and Professional (photographers who run a profitable business, have a solid body of work, a number of publications in their name, and earn the majority of their income from photography)
- Accepted media: digital, analog, phone images, and images taken with any camera; videos are not allowed
- All submitted images must be available for sale
Program Benefits & Awards
- Collective Exhibition: 30 photographers will be selected to exhibit in New York City
- Cash Prizes: 5 photographers will each receive a cash award of $500
- The Art of Light Award: 1 selected photographer will receive an Avant Max Creator Kit (Midnight)
- Online Promotion: 5 photographers will have the chance to receive a year-long spotlight on ARTmine.com
- Social Media Promotion: 5 photographers will be awarded one week of promotion during the competition exhibition on the organizer's social media platforms
- Honorable Mention: 10 photographers will be awarded an honorable mention, which grants complimentary entry to the 9th Chelsea International Photography Competition
Application Fee
- Amateur Category: $45 entry fee for up to 5 images; $5 for each additional image
- Professional Category: $55 entry fee for up to 5 images; $5 for each additional image
Application Requirements
- Amateur Photography: at least one (1) image on any topic, each accompanied by a title
- Professional Photography: a minimum of five (5) images, which may be part of a series or individual photographs, each accompanied by a title; a series description may optionally be included
- Accepted formats: digital, analog, phone images, and images taken with any camera; videos are not accepted
- All submitted images must be available for sale
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 3 November 2026
- Notification Date: 1 December 2026
Location
New York City, United States
Additional Details
- Entries are reviewed by a rotating panel of expert jurors representing different fields in the art world; jurors named in the source include Alison Morley (Chair Emerita, Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program, International Center of Photography), Roy Schweiger (photographer and director), and Sandra M. Stevenson (Deputy Director of Photography, The Washington Post)
- The competition is supported by partners including AGI Fine Art (exhibition opportunities and career guidance), ARTmine (an online fine art gallery), and Agora Gallery (a contemporary art gallery in Chelsea)