The 16th Annual Manifest Prize

About the Open Call

The Manifest Prize was last increased in our 12th season (2015), doubled at that time to $5,000. A decade later, we recognize that artists face greater challenges and that needs have changed. Thanks to the steady support of our Annual Fund and the generosity of our community and key donors who value Manifest's support of artists, the Prize is being doubled this year to $10,000. This is one of the most direct and impactful ways Manifest supports artists alongside honorariums for every exhibitor and nine $1,000 Grand Jury Awards each season.The Prize is open to works of ANY media, ANY genre/style, ANY size*. The jury and judging process has no stylistic or media-based preference or bias. In past years, very small works have won the prize, and room-sized works have won. There are almost no restrictions on submissions to The Manifest Prize. Artists who have submitted to or been included in previous Manifest projects are welcome to submit to any future project, including the Manifest Prize. Artists who have never submitted to or participated in a Manifest project in the past may also apply. There is no benefit from having been exhibited previously at Manifest. A several round blind jury process is used to determine the finalists and winner. As many as 18 purposely anonymous professional jurors score the works. The Manifest Prize is completely separate from the season's nine Grand Jury Awards. Works may be listed as not for sale. If offered for sale, the artist receives 70%. Exhibition Dates: December 12, 2025 - January 9, 2026.The Manifest Board of Directors committee has once again approved additional cash awards for the works selected as the runners-up. In addition to being recognized formally and documented in the Manifest Exhibition Annual publication for the season, the artists of these four works will receive $250 in recognition of their accomplishment. This is a small but meaningful step in our nonprofit organization's direction in expanding the reward for the achievement of excellence in visual art. With an increase in anticipated support in the future, our goal will be to increase this second tier of cash prizes significantly in the coming years.The $10,000 award-winning work will be unveiled at the gallery on December 11th during the ticketed preview event (7-9pm). Open to works of any media, any genre/style, any size... One work will be selected for the award, featured in the gallery, and published. Four finalist works will also be recognized and published. In our 22nd season we are excited to announce that our non-profit board of directors approved an increase in the annual Manifest Prize (ONE) award amount to $10,000. This underscores our organization's strong desire to reward, showcase, celebrate, and document the most exceptional artwork being made today, and to do this in a tasteful non-commercial public context. Further, it is to incentivize the creation of excellent work and to support individual artists in meaningful, career-impacting ways. Manifest's mission is centered on championing the importance of mastery and quality in visual art. This project is one aspect of the realization of that mission which now continues in our 22nd season. The cash award for this competition is now $10,000 and a four-week solo exhibit of the single winning work of art displayed along with juror and artist statements. Four finalist works will be included in the season-documenting publication, the Manifest Exhibition Annual. Manifest's normal selection process involves a complex two-part system. This exhibit and award will be juried by an anonymous 7-15+ person volunteer panel of professional and academic advisors and gallery alumni from across the U.S. and beyond with a broad range of expertise. Because of the nature of this project, works approved by the first jury will be passed through a second, and possibly a third jury round, with jury makeup being shuffled from round to round. The work receiving the highest average score will be awarded the prize. The four next highest scoring works will be the finalists (runners up). These works will each be awarded $250. Individual artists submitting multiple works may be eligible for multiple runner-up awards. Selected juror comments may be posted in the gallery and may be included in the Manifest Exhibition Annual.Through nine seasons Manifest Press produced 74 full-color catalogs documenting the works selected for every exhibit presented in our galleries. Starting with season 10 (fall of 2013) we shifted to the design of one much larger high quality hard-cover retrospective publication documenting each entire season of exhibits, artists, and works shown. This continues Manifest's commitment to long-term documentation and dissemination of our projects, and the expansion of physical exhibits into a broader geography and time frame, while also bringing all exhibits together under one cover each year to create a better product which will be more valuable to the public, teachers, libraries, and exhibiting artists. The two-time award-winning book is larger in size than our INDA, INPA, and INPHA publications, and is designed, printed, and distributed with the same quality and attention to detail. As with all solo exhibitors, the winner of the Manifest Prize will receive their copy of the large-format hardcover book for free once it is produced. The publication will be designed and printed in retrospect, with the goal to ship in the next two calendar years after end of season. (Manifest's exhibit season runs September to September each year. The previous MEA books are currently in production. Our publication production timeframes can vary significantly due to the nature of our small nonprofit staff and global logistics. But we always deliver quality work.) All work accepted for the exhibition must arrive ready to install. Works not gallery-ready, or not exhibiting good craftsmanship, may be omitted from the exhibit and declined the prize. Accepted work that differs significantly from the entry images or suffers from poor presentation, will be disqualified. Please note that professional-level presentation and craftsmanship is a must. Work may be hand delivered or shipped. Shipped works must be sent in an easily reusable container/packaging with return shipping prepaid. Works will be returned in the same manner as delivered or via UPS/USPS. All work must arrive at Manifest by the specified date. Accepted work will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Works not claimed within 30 days of the end of the exhibit will become the property of Manifest. The artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery. Works will be insured by Manifest while on gallery premises. Insurance covers theft, vandalism, damage caused by gallery patrons or staff (in accordance with insurance policy). PLEASE NOTE: Insurance does not cover damage caused during shipping due to any reason, including mishandling by carrier or failure of packaging to protect works in transit. Also not covered is damage caused to work by failure of the work itself, its mounting systems installed or provided by the artist, disintegration/degradation due to the nature/quality of materials or craftsmanship, or incidental damage to works whose artist-directed presentation methods put them at risk. For any claim the artist may be required to provide proof of value. In general artists are encouraged to insure their works in transit with the carrier, and/or obtain personal articles insurance that covers works sent for exhibit (not just with us, but anywhere the artwork will travel in the future.)

What is Offered

$10,000 cash award, a four-week solo exhibition, and inclusion in the Manifest Exhibition Annual publication. Four runners-up will receive $250 each and be included in the publication.

Requirements

Works submitted must have been completed within the past five years (2020-2025). The winning work must be available for exhibition from early December 2025 through mid-January 2026. Works must be gallery-ready and exhibit professional craftsmanship. Digital images must meet specified format and naming conventions (e.g., JPEG, no smaller than 1000 pixels, 72 dpi). For video/interactive submissions, a viewable online link and a single representative JPEG image are required. Submission indicates agreement to conditions and availability of work for exhibit.

How to Apply

Submit via the online entry form (link provided) and upload image files using the provided Dropbox button. Entry fee payable by U.S. check or money order to MANIFEST, or credit card via PayPal. Video links should be provided on the entry form for each work in the VIEWING LINK section, and should link directly to online or downloadable content that does NOT require a login, password or membership to view. These may be in the form of Youtube, Vimeo, Dropbox, or other similar links. A JPEG still image must also be submitted to represent the entry.