Organizer Information
The Meridian Award is an independently founded international contemporary art award, established in New York City. It supports independent, self-directed contemporary practices and welcomes submissions from artists worldwide. The award is committed to recognizing and supporting artists whose work demonstrates originality, clarity, and a distinct voice within the contemporary art landscape, and it is now in its second award cycle. Beyond direct financial support, the organization offers international visibility through featured artist interviews and dedicated promotion across its website and Instagram platform.
Title & Description
The Meridian Award — Cycle II
The Meridian Award grants a $1,000 unrestricted cash prize to one contemporary artist working in any medium, selected through an open call and juried review process. The award has no thematic requirements, with portfolios evaluated on artistic merit, clarity of vision, coherence of the work presented, and the strength of a unique artistic perspective. Each cycle recognizes one winner and two finalists; all three are invited to participate in an online interview featured on the Meridian Award website and Instagram, though only the winner receives the cash prize.
Categories
- Painting
- Drawing
- Digital
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Fiber/Textile Art
- Performance
- Sound Art
- Video/Film
- Multiple Disciplines
Eligibility
- Open to all artists aged 18 and over
- No restrictions based on nationality, location, education, or professional status
- Collaborative teams may apply, provided they submit one application and one shared portfolio
- Short films and feature-length films are not eligible for consideration at this time
Program Benefits & Awards
- Winner: $1,000 unrestricted cash prize, usable for any purpose (studio time, materials, research, personal sustainability, etc.)
- Winner and 2 finalists: participation in a featured online interview, published on the Meridian Award website and official Instagram (@meridianaward)
- Finalists do not receive the cash prize but are recognized through publication and promotion
Application Fee
- Early bird application: $15
- Standard application: $25
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Early bird Application Deadline: 5 August 2026
- Final Application Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Winner and Finalists Announced: mid-November 2026
Location
New York City, United States
Additional Details
- Jurors are invited professionals working in contemporary art; their identities are not publicly disclosed, in order to protect their independence and privacy
- All jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal
- The award does not accept nominations from artists, institutions, or curators — applications must be submitted directly by the artist
- Artists retain full copyright to all submitted work; the winner and finalists grant the Meridian Award permission to reproduce submitted images solely for promotional purposes (website, interviews, digital materials), with no other usage rights required
- The winner will be notified only via an official email address ending in meridianaward.com; the organization does not contact artists via direct message, personal email, or through jurors, and encourages verification of any suspicious correspondence via the official contact form
- No individual feedback is provided on applications due to submission volume