Organizer Information
The PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE is organized by Galerie VON&VON, a contemporary art gallery based in Germany that focuses on emerging and mid-career artists. Since 2016, the gallery has developed the PLAYGROUND exhibition series as a recurring platform dedicated specifically to supporting young and emerging artists at the transition point between academic study and professional art practice. The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between art education and the commercial/curatorial art world by offering first institutional visibility, professional exhibition experience, and access to international art fair contexts.
A key aspect of the program is its collaboration with a rotating expert jury composed of established curators and museum directors from major European institutions, ensuring curatorial credibility and professional selection standards.
Title & Description
PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE 2026
The PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE is an annual competition and exhibition platform aimed at emerging artists currently enrolled in art academies or universities in the German-speaking region. The program provides selected participants with their first opportunity to exhibit in a professional gallery setting and to be evaluated by a high-profile curatorial jury.
The 2026 edition continues its mission of showcasing new artistic voices across disciplines without thematic restriction. Artists submit up to three works, which are reviewed by a jury of curators and museum professionals. From all submissions, three winners are selected. These winners receive monetary awards and are included in a group exhibition at Galerie VON&VON, scheduled for summer 2026.
In addition to the gallery exhibition, the prize offers international visibility, including the opportunity for selected works to be presented at major art fairs such as ARTISSIMA in Turin, significantly enhancing exposure within the European contemporary art market.
Categories
The open call is interdisciplinary and welcomes all artistic mediums, including:
- Visual Art (painting, drawing, mixed media)
- Sculpture and Installation
- Photography
- Video and Film
- Digital Art and New Media
- Conceptual and Interdisciplinary Practices
- Performance documentation (if applicable in visual formats)
No thematic restrictions are imposed, allowing full creative freedom.
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled at a university, academy, or art school in the German-speaking region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.)
- Must have completed at least 6 semesters of study at the time of application
- Must be emerging artists (primarily students rather than established professionals)
- International students studying within eligible institutions are accepted if the requirements are met
The call is primarily targeted at early-career artists in higher education settings.
Program Benefits & Awards
- 1st Prize: €1,000
- 2nd Prize: €300
- 3rd Prize: €200
- Group exhibition participation (02 July – 29 August 2026) at Galerie VON&VON
- Professional exhibition production and curatorial presentation
- Jury evaluation by leading museum professionals and curators
- Increased visibility in the German and European contemporary art scene
- Potential exposure at international art fairs (e.g., ARTISSIMA Turin)
- Documentation and promotional coverage by the gallery
Winners also gain networking opportunities with curators and institutions represented in the jury.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed application form (mandatory PDF form)
- Artist statement (max. 300 words)
- Up to three artworks (maximum 3 works total)
- Artwork descriptions (max. 200 words per work)
- High-quality images of each work
- JPG format
- Minimum 1200 px side length
- 300 dpi resolution
- Proper file naming convention (Name_Title_Year_Dimensions_Material.jpg)
- All materials compiled into a single PDF (excluding image files)
- Separate JPG image files for each artwork
Additional requirements:
- Works must be created within the last 3 years
- All media are accepted
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted exclusively via email to: j.hampel@galerie-vonundvon.de
Subject line: “Bewerbung PLAYGROUND ART PRIZE 2026”
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 28 April 2026
- Jury Review: 22 May 2026
- Notification Period: 22 May – 31 May 2026
- Award Ceremony: 02 July 2026
- Exhibition Period: 02 July – 29 August 2026
- Return of Works: after 29 August 2026
Location
Germany
Additional Details
- A professional jury composed of leading curators and museum directors evaluates all submissions:
- Dr. Claudia Emmert
- Anna-Catharina Gebbers
- Benedikt Seerieder
- Angela Stief
- Dr. Daniel Zamani
- Selected works are insured during the exhibition period
- Artists must agree to documentation and media use for promotional purposes
- Submission is strictly digital and must be complete to be considered valid
- No specific theme is imposed, encouraging open artistic exploration
- Travel or accommodation costs are not generally covered unless individually agreed