Organizer Information
The Meridian Award is an independent international initiative founded in New York City. It operates as a self-directed platform dedicated to supporting contemporary artists working across disciplines without institutional or geographic constraints. Unlike museum-led or university-affiliated prizes, the Meridian Award is structured as an autonomous open-call system designed to highlight emerging and mid-career artists through direct financial support and digital visibility.
Its curatorial philosophy centers on artistic independence and practice-driven selection rather than thematic programming. The organization positions itself as a platform for identifying artists with a strong conceptual voice, sustained commitment to practice, and clear authorship in their work. In addition to the financial award, it emphasizes public exposure through interviews and online publication, aiming to strengthen professional recognition for selected artists within the global contemporary art ecosystem.
Title & Description
Meridian Award – International Open Call for Contemporary Artists
The Meridian Award offers a $1,000 unrestricted cash prize to one selected contemporary artist per cycle, alongside recognition for two additional finalists. The award is open to artists working in any medium, with the exception of short and feature-length films, and is structured around a juried review process focusing on artistic merit rather than thematic alignment.
The core purpose of the award is to support independent artistic practice in a direct and flexible way. The financial prize is fully unrestricted, allowing the selected artist to allocate funds according to their professional or personal needs, such as studio costs, material production, research and development, or general livelihood support.
Beyond the monetary award, selected artists gain international visibility through featured interviews published on the Meridian Award’s website and promoted across its official social media channels. The program emphasizes clarity of artistic vision, coherence of practice, and originality of expression as the primary evaluation criteria. There are no thematic limitations, ensuring that artists are assessed based on the strength and integrity of their existing work.
Categories
The Meridian Award accepts submissions across a wide range of contemporary art disciplines, including:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Digital Art
- Print-based Media
- Textile-based Media
- Performance Art
- Sound Art
- Video Art (excluding short and feature-length films)
- Interdisciplinary and hybrid practices
Eligibility
The open call is internationally accessible and inclusive. Eligibility criteria include:
- Open to all artists aged 18 and above
- No restrictions on nationality or country of residence
- No limitations based on educational background or institutional affiliation
- Open to emerging, mid-career, and independent professional artists
The award specifically welcomes self-directed artistic practices and does not require gallery representation or academic affiliation.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected participants benefit from:
- 1 Winner: $1,000 unrestricted cash prize
- 2 Finalists: Featured recognition without cash award
- Online artist interviews for the winner and finalists
- Publication and promotion on official Meridian Award platforms
- International visibility through the website and Instagram features
- Professional validation through juried selection
The prize is intentionally unrestricted, offering flexibility for artists to allocate funds according to their own priorities.
Application Fee
- Early Bird Fee: $15 (if submitted by April 15, 2026)
- Standard Fee: $25
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit materials via the official application form. Required components include:
- Full name and email address
- Up to 5 total files (images and/or video links combined)
- Artwork descriptions
- Artist statement
- Short biography
Additional notes:
- Submissions must comply with file size and formatting requirements
- Incomplete applications may be disqualified
- Strong emphasis is placed on the clarity and coherence of artistic practice
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Early Bird Deadline: 15 April 2026
- Final Application Deadline: 15 June 2026
- Winner & Finalists Announcement: Mid-July 2026
Location
New York City, United States
Additional Details
- Selection is based on juried review, focusing on artistic merit, conceptual clarity, and originality
- There is no thematic requirement; open to all contemporary approaches
- Only one winner receives the cash prize; two additional finalists receive recognition
- Interviews with selected artists are published online and promoted via social media
- Applicants are encouraged to ensure high-quality documentation of their work, as visual clarity plays a significant role in evaluation