Organizer Information
Karikaturmuseum Krems, operated by Kunstmeile Krems Betriebs GmbH, is a museum in Krems an der Donau, Austria, dedicated to caricature and cartoon art. Together with the State of Lower Austria and under the patronage of Annemarie Sokol, the museum organizes the Erich-Sokol-Preis to recognize outstanding contemporary work in traditional and digital caricature, critical drawing, and satire. The prize was established in 2018 and is intended to continue every four to five years.
Title & Description
Erich-Sokol-Preis für digitale Karikatur, kritische Zeichenkunst und Satire
The Erich-Sokol Prize for Digital Caricature, Critical Drawing and Satire 2027 invites artists from around the world to submit portfolios of caricatures and satirical graphics. The award explores contemporary approaches to drawing, satire, social criticism, digital image-making, and the changing relationship between caricature, the public sphere, and technology.
The competition includes several award categories. The SOKOL Recognition Prize honors a lifetime achievement or exceptional accomplishment in caricature, with particular attention to drawing quality, satirical content, and the political statements expressed through an artist's overall body of work. The SOKOL Main Prize for Digital Caricature focuses on contemporary digital practices, including the use of computers, online publishing, social media, and critical engagement with artificial intelligence. The SOKOL Development Prize supports younger caricaturists working in increasingly challenging professional and creative conditions.
Selected works by the 2027 prize recipients will be presented at the Karikaturmuseum Krems from July 2027 to July 2028.
Categories
- Caricature
- Digital Caricature
- Satirical Graphics
- Critical Drawing
- Illustration
- Cartoon Art
- Social and Political Satire
- Traditional Drawing
Eligibility
The competition is international and open to artists worldwide. Eligible applicants include:
- Artists aged 18 or older
- Professional and practicing artists
- Students and graduates of artistic or graphic education
- Artists working domestically or internationally
- Artists creating traditionally and/or digitally drawn caricatures
There is no prescribed theme; artists are free to choose the subject matter of their submitted work.
The two AIR Artist-in-Residence scholarships are specifically for international participants. Austrian artists are excluded from these scholarships.
Program Benefits & Awards
The total value of the awards exceeds €30,000, including:
- SOKOL Recognition Prize for exceptional achievement or lifetime achievement: €11,000
- SOKOL Main Prize for Digital Caricature: €11,000
- SOKOL Development Prize: €4,000
- 2 AIR – Artist in Residence Niederösterreich scholarships: €1,950 each
Each AIR scholarship includes five weeks of free accommodation in an artist studio apartment in Krems and personal on-site support.
Prize-winning works will be presented in an exhibition at Karikaturmuseum Krems from July 2027 to July 2028, providing recipients with international museum exhibition exposure.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 December 2026
- Winner notification: Shortly after the winners have been selected; nominated artists are notified by email
- Award ceremony: July 2027
- Exhibition: July 2027 – July 2028
Location
Krems an der Donau, Austria
Additional Details
The submitted portfolio is the primary basis for evaluation. The jury considers originality, drawing quality, conceptual and content-related strength, innovative thinking, achievement of the call's objectives, and interesting use of media.
Applicants must be the creators and copyright holders of the submitted works. Original artworks should not be sent, as they will not be returned and the organizer assumes no liability for submitted originals.
If nominated, artists grant the museum rights to exhibit and reproduce the nominated works for exhibition-related reporting, documentation, publications, marketing, catalogues, internet and social-media communication, and documentation after the exhibition. The artist is credited as the creator.
The museum may exclude submissions containing discriminatory or degrading content, works violating applicable law or third-party rights, or submissions that attempt to manipulate the competition process.