Arte Laguna Prize – 21st Edition
Summary
International art and design competition in Venice seeking works across 10 categories; submit online with images or video by 15 July 2026; top award €10,000.
Essential Data
| Organizer | Cultural Association MoCA (Modern and Contemporary Art) |
| Competition type | Open international art and design competition |
| Location | Venice, Italy — finalists’ exhibition at Arsenale Nord |
| Eligibility | Open worldwide to artists regardless of age, gender, or nationality |
| Registration fee | €97.60 for artists born after 1 January 1991; €122 for artists born in 1990 or earlier; each additional work after the fifth costs €24.40; PayPal adds €5 |
| Submission deadline | 15 July 2026 |
| Full prize | At least €18,500 in open cash awards, plus residencies and exhibitions; FOMAS adds €14,000 but its earlier deadline has closed |
| Official website | artelagunaprize.com | Registration portal |
About the Competition
Arte Laguna Prize is an annual Venice-based platform for contemporary art and design. The 21st edition combines an open call, a juried shortlist of 120 artists, a large public exhibition at Arsenale Nord, and a set of partner opportunities that include residencies, commissions, and exhibitions in several countries. For entrants, the event functions less like a single-award contest and more like a networked selection process built around visibility, placement, and professional access.
The call spans ten categories, from painting and sculpture to land art, street art, digital work, and art design. The theme is unrestricted. Previously exhibited pieces are allowed, although the organizers indicate a preference for recent production. Winners are announced during the opening phase of the Venice exhibition, which runs from 6 to 29 November 2026.
What is Required?
The call accepts work across ten categories. Each participant may enter up to five pieces across one or more sections, with extra charges for additional entries. No conceptual theme is imposed. At entry stage, applicants submit digital material rather than boards, technical drawings, reports, or models unless those formats are inherent to the work itself. Shortlisted exhibitors should expect to pay shipping and any materials needed for installation.
| Category | Maximum limit stated |
|---|---|
| Painting | 175 cm on each side |
| Sculpture and Installation | Base 4 × 4 m; height 8 m |
| Photography | 175 cm on each side |
| Video Art and Short Films | 15 minutes / 500 MB |
| Performance | 10 minutes / 4 × 4 m |
| Digital Art | Base 4 × 4 m; height 8 m |
| Digital Graphics and Cartoon | 175 cm on each side |
| Land Art | No preset size limit stated |
| Street Art | No preset size limit stated |
| Art Design | To be defined by the organizers according to selection needs |
Applications are submitted through the reserved area at artelaguna.world. The material supplied also states that an email-based form can be requested at info@artelagunaprize.com. Payment is accepted online, through PayPal with a €5 surcharge, by bank transfer, or in person at the secretariat in Mogliano Veneto. Participation in partner opportunities is free for registered entrants, but each one requires a separate form.
Submission Materials
| Entry component | What to submit | Format / size |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Personal details and profile in the reserved area | Via artelaguna.world |
| Works | Up to 5 pieces across categories | Each extra work after the fifth costs €24.40 |
| Painting / Photography / Digital Graphics and Cartoon | 1 image plus description | Image up to 4 MB |
| Sculpture / Digital Art / Art Design | 3 images plus description; optional video link | Image file format not confirmed — check official website |
| Video Art / Short Films / Performance | Video link, description, and 1 image | Image up to 4 MB; video category limit 15 minutes / 500 MB; performance limit 10 minutes |
| Land Art / Street Art | 3 images, project description, and optional video link | No preset dimension limit stated |
| Special opportunities | Separate application form for each partner call | No extra fee for registered entrants |
| Alternative method | Email request for a dedicated form | info@artelagunaprize.com |
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| FOMAS Group early deadline | 1 June 2026 — closed |
| Registration deadline | 15 July 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 15 July 2026 |
| Shortlisted artists’ exhibition | 6–29 November 2026 |
| Results announcement | During the exhibition opening ceremony in November 2026. Exact date not confirmed — check official website. |
The material supplied does not confirm the exact closing hour for the 15 July deadline. Not confirmed — check official website.
Prizes
Confirmed cash awards open to the general call total at least €18,500, before the 25% withholding stated for monetary prizes under Italian law.
| Prize | Amount | Status / note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall winner | €10,000 | Open |
| Painting Award | €2,000 | Open; any painting technique |
| Oil Painting Prize — 1st | €2,000 | Open |
| Oil Painting Prize — 2nd | €1,000 | Open |
| Gabe Tenute site-specific commission | €2,000 | Open special opportunity |
| LITIX residency grant | €1,500 | Open special opportunity |
| FOMAS Group — 1st prize | €7,000 | Closed; deadline was 1 June 2026 |
| FOMAS Group — 2nd prize | €4,000 | Closed; deadline was 1 June 2026 |
| FOMAS Group — 3rd prize | €3,000 | Closed; deadline was 1 June 2026 |
Other confirmed opportunities carry no published cash figure unless stated below.
| Partner / program | Opportunity | Duration / timing | What is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swatch Art Peace Hotel | Residency in Shanghai, China | 3 months | Accommodation, studio, and integration into the local art scene |
| MoCA | Residency in Venice, Italy | 15 days | Accommodation and cultural visits |
| BigCi | Residency in Bilpin, Australia | 4 weeks | Accommodation, studio, closing exhibition, and excursions |
| NY20+ | Residency in Chengdu, China | 31 days | Fully supported stay, exhibitions, and meetings with collectors |
| LAB852 | Residency in Hvar, Croatia | 2 weeks to 2 months | Travel, accommodation, studio, and participation in Jelsa Biennale |
| Estudio Rambar | Residency in Guanacaste, Costa Rica | 2 weeks | Accommodation, meals, and a solo exhibition |
| Culver City Art Foundation | Residency in California, United States | 1 month in 2027 | Private room, studio, and closing exhibition |
| Château de Leignon | Residency in Ciney, Belgium | 2 weeks | Hotel accommodation, meals, and a closing exhibition |
| Galata – Museo del Mare | Group exhibition in Genoa, Italy | March 2027 | 15–20 artists; theme related to sea routes |
| Gallery Studio 76 | Exhibition in Bucharest, Romania | Not confirmed — check official website | One shortlisted artist |
| Crossing Art Rising Stars | Exhibition in New York or Shanghai | 2027 | Solo or group format |
| Universidad Ricardo Palma | Residency in Lima, Peru | 1 month | Placement in the architecture faculty on the theme of art, design, and architecture |
Jury
| Name | Current position |
|---|---|
| Sarah Crowe | Assistant Curator, Kunsthalle Wien |
| Yuko Hasegawa | Independent Curator; Director, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa |
| Jemima Kulumba | Co-founder, Women in Art Biennale |
| Wang Chunchen | Professor and Chief Curator, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing |
| Hèlio Menezes | Curator |
| Gianluigi Ricuperati | Independent Curator, Artistic Director, and Writer |
| Linzi Stauvers | Artistic Director, Ikon Gallery |
Yes — this is a jury with real institutional weight across museums, curatorial practice, and international exhibition-making.
Intellectual Property
Artists retain ownership of the submitted images and works. By entering, however, they grant Arte Laguna srl and the MoCA association a free right to reproduce, exhibit, publish, translate, and communicate the material to the public. No additional exhibition fee is stated for shortlisted participants.
The material supplied does not confirm the duration, territorial scope, or exclusivity of that license. Not confirmed — check official website. A separate practical point matters: shipping costs and any materials needed for installation remain the artist’s responsibility, while the organizers state that they handle exhibition organization and logistical support.
Registration Deadline
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