Organizer Information:

The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA), endowed by art collectors Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt. The Bennett Prize aims to elevate women figurative realist painters, helping them achieve their full potential and leveling the playing field for women artists.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the fifth edition of The Bennett Prize.

This is a stipend/grant-in-aid program designed to support the fine art practice of a woman painter working in figurative realism. Ten finalists will be selected for a major traveling exhibition. From those ten, one winner will receive a massive $75,000 grant and a solo exhibition, and one runner-up will receive a $10,000 award.

Category:

Painting (Strictly traditional painting on a 2D surface; watercolor, gouache, and pastels are permitted. Mixed media is allowed if paint is the primary material).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Open to women (including trans, cis, and nonbinary people who identify as women) who are 18 years or older.
  • Location: Applicants MUST reside at least part-time in the United States (50 States and Washington, D.C.) and maintain an active studio practice in the U.S. (U.S. Citizenship is not required).
  • Medium & Subject: The work MUST be figurative realism (depicting one or more figures of any gender, clothed or nude). Paintings rendered over the top of photographic images are strictly NOT eligible. Only original works completed in the past 5 years are eligible.
  • Career Stage & Sales Ban: Artists who have previously received a grant/award of $35,000 or more, or who have sold any single work of art for $35,000 or more, are strictly NOT eligible.
  • Student Ban: Applicants must NOT be a full- or part-time student at any point between September 19, 2026, and May 20, 2027. (Employment during this time does not affect eligibility).
  • Availability: Artists must be available to attend the opening event, and works must be available for the traveling exhibition from February 2027 through September 2029.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Grand Prize Winner: $75,000 USD (distributed as $37,500 annually over two years) AND a fully supported traveling solo exhibition opening in May 2029.
  • Runner-Up: $10,000 USD.
  • 10 Finalists: Inclusion in the prestigious traveling group exhibition opening at the MMA.
  • Travel & Shipping: The MMA covers the packing and shipping costs of the artwork. The MMA also covers travel and lodging expenses for the 10 finalists to attend the opening event on May 27, 2027.
  • Catalogue: A published, full-color exhibition catalogue featuring all 10 finalists.

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Application Fee: $50.00 USD (Non-refundable. Read all eligibility rules carefully before paying).

Application Requirements:

  • Submission Portal: Applications are processed digitally through the CaFÉ (CallForEntry) website (Search keyword: "Bennett").
  • Image Limits: You MUST submit between 4 and 6 total images. This must consist of exactly 3 to 5 artworks PLUS exactly 1 detail image demonstrating your craft and technique. Entries without a detail image will not be considered.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: September 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
  • Notification of Results: By November 1, 2026.
  • Artwork Delivery: Must arrive at the MMA by February 12, 2027.
  • Exhibition Dates: May 20, 2027 – August 22, 2027 (Followed by a national tour).

Location:

Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan, USA.

Contact Information:

Inquiries Email: bennettprize@muskegonartmuseum.org

Website: https://thebennettprize.org