Organizer Information:

Visual Art Open (VAO) in partnership with the Visual Artists Association (VAA). The VAA represents a global community of over 25,000 members, providing resources to nurture artistic and professional growth.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the 11th annual Visual Art Open (VAO26).

This major international art award celebrates the diverse talents of artists at every stage of their journey, from emerging talents to seasoned professionals. The competition offers a £10,000 total prize fund, career-enhancing benefits, and culminating physical exhibitions at the iconic Minster Building in central London.

Category:

Multidisciplinary (Painting, Sculpture, Drawing & Illustration, Mixed Media, Collage & Printmaking, Photography & Digital Art).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Open to artists of all levels globally.
  • Categories: Applicants must submit under specific categories, which include standard medium-based tracks as well as dedicated tracks for Student Artists and Art Educators.
  • Inclusivity: The VAO has a strong commitment to inclusivity and explicitly welcomes artists who are often excluded from mainstream art circles.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Overall Winner: £2,000 Cash Prize, a dedicated Solo Show in London, inclusion in the London Finalist Exhibition, VAA Premium Annual Membership, VAA Annual Mentorship Programme, VAA Momentum Programme, and a Certificate of Achievement.
  • Category Winners: £250 Cash Prize, VAA Premium Annual Membership, VAA Momentum Programme, inclusion in the London Finalist Exhibition, additional online promotion, and a Certificate of Achievement.
  • All Finalists: Inclusion in the London Finalist Exhibition (October 2026), additional online promotion, and VAA profiling.
  • All Submissions: Every artist who enters receives promotion across social media channels and email coverage to 60,000+ subscribers, plus an invitation to the annual finalists show.

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Standard Pricing: * 1 artwork: £20
    • 2 artworks: £30
    • 3 artworks: £40
    • 4 artworks: £50
    • 5 artworks: £60
  • Student Artist & Art Educator Pricing:
    • 1 artwork: £8
    • 2 artworks: £14
    • 3 artworks: £20
    • 4 artworks: £25
    • 5 artworks: £30
  • (Note: The VAO receives no public funding; the platform is sustained through these registration fees, donations, and sponsorships).

Application Requirements:

  • Submission Portal: Applications must be submitted via the official VAO website portal.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: Midnight, June 10, 2026.
  • London Finalist Exhibition: October 2026.

Location:

Global / Online (Finalist Exhibition and Solo Show held in London, UK at The Minster Building).

Contact Information:

Inquiries Email: info@visualartopen.com

Website & Application Link: https://www.visualartopen.com/