Organizer Information
The Hopper Prize is a grant-making institution and digital archiving platform that offers individual artist grants on a bi-annual basis. The organization was established to increase recognition of the work of visual artists and to advance their careers by providing unrestricted financial support in the form of individual artist grants. Since 2018, The Hopper Prize has funded artists around the globe, working in all media, at all stages of their careers — from emerging to mid-career to established, and recipients have gone on to exhibit at major galleries, art fairs, museums, and biennials. Beyond grant-making, the organization runs a digital archiving initiative that makes selected artists' work, biographies, and website links available at hopperprize.org as a resource for curators, gallery owners, collectors, and arts enthusiasts.
Title & Description
The Hopper Prize — Individual Artist Grants
The Hopper Prize provides unrestricted cash grants to artists working in any media, distributed twice annually through an open call. Twelve individual artist grants are awarded each year, totaling $22,000 USD, split between a Spring cycle (6 grants) and a Fall cycle (6 grants); winners are selected on a merit basis according to the quality of their work. Beyond direct funding, selected artists gain visibility through inclusion in the organization's online archive and, optionally, features on its Instagram account.
Categories
- Painting
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Drawing
- Video/Film
- Performance
- New Media
- Installation
- Printmaking
- Fiber/Textile Art
- Multiple Disciplines
Eligibility
- Open to artists 18 years of age or older
- Open to artists residing internationally, with no nationality restrictions
- No restrictions on career stage or experience level (open to emerging, mid-career, and established artists)
- Open to artists working in any media and any method of production, with one exception: sound-based art is not currently accepted
- Collaborative teams and collectives are eligible to apply
- Applications may be submitted only directly through hopperprize.org; the organization does not accept nominations and does not solicit applications directly from artists
Program Benefits & Awards
- 2 grants of $4,500 USD each, per cycle
- 4 grants of $1,000 USD each, per cycle
- Total of 12 grants awarded annually (6 in Spring, 6 in Fall), totaling $22,000–$26,000 USD depending on source page (the homepage states $26,000 total annually; the Artist Grant Program page states $22,000 total annually — this discrepancy should be flagged before publishing)
- Up to 30 artists per cycle (60 annually) selected for inclusion in the organization's permanent online archive at hopperprize.org, alongside grant winners
- Optional additional exposure via feature on the Hopper Prize Instagram account (@hopperprize), for artists who opt in; not all applicants who opt in are guaranteed a feature
Application Fee
$40 USD, non-refundable, due at the time of application submission.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 17 November 2026
- Winners Announced: 26 February 2027
Location
Online
Additional Details
- The application fee is submitted first via the website's payment link; applicants are then redirected to the application form and also receive an email confirmation with a link to it
- Artists retain copyright to submitted work; winners and finalists grant The Hopper Prize the right to reproduce their art on its website and digital collateral only, with no other use required or granted
- Winners may use grant funds for any purpose, with no restrictions
- All official communication from The Hopper Prize is sent from email addresses ending in hopperprize.org; the organization does not use third-party email providers or contact artists directly to solicit applications
- As of 2025, current and future jurors are not publicly disclosed, a policy adopted after an applicant's spouse attempted to improperly influence jurors; any applicant found attempting to influence jurors or staff will be immediately disqualified
- A historical archive of past jurors remains published separately, documenting the organization's work prior to this policy change