Organizer Information
The International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC) is a globally recognized platform dedicated to advancing independent critical writing on contemporary art. In its twelfth edition, IAAC continues its mission to encourage rigorous, reflective, and research-based art criticism beyond commercial or institutional pressures. The program is jointly supported by academic and cultural institutions in China and the UK, with a long-standing jury composed of international art historians, critics, and curators. IAAC emphasizes anonymity in judging and cross-cultural dialogue, ensuring an unbiased and academically grounded selection process.
Title & Description
IAAC 12 — International Awards for Art Criticism 2026
The International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC 12) invites writers worldwide to submit original critical essays on contemporary art exhibitions. Participants are asked to produce a single piece of critical writing (up to 1,500 words in English or 2,500 Chinese characters) focusing on any contemporary exhibition held globally or online between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026.
The competition aims to strengthen the role of critical writing in contemporary art discourse, encouraging thoughtful engagement with exhibitions, artists, and curatorial frameworks. Submissions may address exhibitions across any medium, including performance-based or interdisciplinary formats, and must be unpublished.
Selected entries will be evaluated by an international jury and may be published in the IAAC annual review. The awards also aim to foster cross-cultural exchange between China, the UK, and the global art writing community.
Categories
- Art Writing
- Writing
- Article
- Curatorial
- Research
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Criticism / Essay-based practice
Eligibility
- Open internationally to applicants of all ages and backgrounds
- Writers may submit in English or Chinese
- Submissions must be original, unpublished critical texts
- The text must analyze a contemporary art exhibition held between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026
- The exhibition may be physical or online, anywhere in the world
- Only one submission per participant is allowed per year
- No formal academic or professional requirements are necessary
Program Benefits & Awards
- First Prize: €10,000 (or equivalent in RMB)
- Second Prize: Three awards of €3,500 each (or RMB equivalent)
- Selected texts published in IAAC Exhibition Reviews Annual (print + online)
- International visibility within curatorial and academic art networks
- Participation in a prestigious jury-evaluated global platform for art criticism
- Contribution to cross-cultural discourse in contemporary art writing
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- One critical essay (max 1,500 English words / 2,500 Chinese characters)
- Optional: up to 3 supporting images of the exhibition (publication-cleared)
- Submission in a single optimized PDF file (max 4MB)
- Personal details and exhibition information included in the application form (for administrative use only)
- Work must be unpublished and original
- Optional metadata for images (captions and credits required if included)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 14 September 2026 (24:00 UK Time)
- Jury Review: November–December 2026 (Shanghai)
- Winners Announcement: December 2026
- Publication of Selected Works: Early Summer 2027
Location
Shanghai, China
Additional Details
- Submissions are anonymized for evaluation to ensure fairness
- Entries exceeding word limits by more than 10% may be rejected
- All publication rights are transferred to the organizers upon submission
- Selected texts may be translated between English and Chinese
- Final selection is made by a rotating international jury panel
- Strong emphasis is placed on critical rigor, originality, and analytical depth