Organizer Information
The Walter Haymann Foundation is a non-profit estate foundation registered in the Zurich commercial register, established in 2010 by Zurich painter Walter Haymann. As an artist's foundation, its primary purpose is to preserve, maintain, and promote awareness of Haymann's own artistic work; its secondary purpose is to support and financially promote Swiss painting and sculpture through prizes, studio grants, work contributions, the acquisition of works, and contributions to exhibitions by Swiss artists at home and abroad. The Foundation is governed by a three-member board and regularly stages exhibitions at its foundation house in Zurich, pairing Haymann's own work in dialogue with contemporary artistic positions.
Title & Description
Walter Haymann Prize 2026
The Walter Haymann Prize, endowed with CHF 10,000, is awarded annually to outstanding artists working in painting and sculpture. It is aimed at professional artists at the beginning of their career, intended to support them on their path and foster their further development. The jury decides on the award based on submitted dossiers, and the prize may be split between two recipients.
Categories
- Painting
- Sculpture
Eligibility
- Open to artists within ten years of completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fine Arts; for the 2026 prize, degrees from 2016 onward qualify
- Eligible applicants must have had their center of life in Switzerland for at least five years
- Artists without a university degree may also apply, provided they can demonstrate their professional activity through an exhibition history and are within the first ten years of their artistic career
- Particular consideration will be given to artists not yet represented by a commercial gallery
- Applicants may apply for either the Walter Haymann Prize or the Studio Grant (Atelierstipendium) in the same year, but not both
- Individuals who have already received a Walter Haymann Foundation award are not eligible to apply again
Program Benefits & Awards
- Prize money of CHF 10,000, which may be split between two recipients
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application ِ Deadline: 13 September 2026
- Notification of results: expected end of October 2026
- Public award ceremony: 26 November 2026, from 6:00 pm, in Zurich
Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Additional Details
- The 2026 jury consists of Dominique Lämmli (artist and lecturer), Johanna Vieli (curator), and Ulrich Meinherz (Director, Kesselhaus Josephsohn)
- By submitting, applicants confirm that all submitted work is their own
- The jury's decision is final, non-appealable, and does not require justification
- Selected recipients commit to attending the public award ceremony on 26 November 2026 in Zurich, and to listing the award in their artistic biography/CV
- By applying, participants agree to the Foundation's data protection policy; if awarded, they must provide a portrait photo and three images of their work, which may be published on the Foundation's website and social media channels in connection with the award