Sunny Art Prize 2021

The Sunny Art Prize 2021 is now open for submissions. This prestigious contemporary art prize is open to entries from around the world, and offers cash prizes, exhibition opportunities (London, Beijing & Shanghai) and artist residencies in China.

The Sunny Art Prize is sponsored by the Arts Council England and has established itself as one of the UK’s most prestigious international art competitions. The scope of this contemporary art prize is about sourcing the most talented artists from all over the world, both established and emerging ones, who produce ground-breaking and innovative artworks. We select artists who work with a wide range of media, making the art prize a varied and stimulating global platform to engage with critical contemporary issues and topics. The art competition is then open to everyone, regardless of location or preferred medium and theme.

Every year, we shortlist 30 artists, among whom we select three winners. All the shortlisted artists have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Sunny Art Centre, London, a prestigious art institution with an extraordinary collection of old masters and artworks by leading contemporary artists. The winners, alongside seven other artists chosen from the shortlist, have the chance to exhibit their work with our partnering galleries in China. The exhibiting galleries are located in cities across China, such as Beijing and Shanghai. They are amongst the leading art institutions in the Asian art market.

This art contest also gives the art prize-winners the chance to experience a one-month artist residency in China. The Artist Residency Programme is organised in collaboration with established Chinese art institutions, and it provides the opportunity to engage with historically and culturally rich places in China. 

You can submit entries that fall under the categories of sculpture, painting, drawing, original print, photography, ceramic, mixed media, installation, video art and/or moving image, digital art (including physical work which is computer generated, e.g. digital prints).

Submission deadline: 30 June 2021