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. 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. Works submitted must have been completed within the past five years (2020-2025 for the 16th Manifest Prize). The winning work must also be available for the exhibition period of early December through mid-January in order to be eligible for the prize, but is not required to be available for sale, however some previous Manifest Prize winning works have been purchased by collectors and regional museums. 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%. 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. 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 Manifest Prize was launched in 2010 as an annual offering. 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. Eligibility: THE MANIFEST PRIZE is open to everyone. The only limitation is that entries must represent exceptional original works of visual art, design, or high craftsmanship of any kind and be available and capable of being exhibited in one of Manifest's five galleries. Works submitted for this award must have been completed within the past five years (since 2020). Works submitted MUST be available for the exhibition period of early December through mid-January in order to be eligible for the prize. Works need not be for sale, but may be at the artist's discretion. Submission constitutes a formal agreement to provide the work for exhibit should it be selected. Media: Open to any and all traditional and non-traditional visual arts genre and media, (including video, photography, sculpture, installation, painting, drawing, printmaking, furniture design, etc.). There is no size limit or minimum size required, other than what is capable of being displayed in our gallery space. Jury and Curator: 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. Publication: A large quality hard-cover retrospective publication documenting each entire season of exhibits, artists, and works shown. 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. Delivery and Return of Winning Work for Exhibition: 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. Work may be hand delivered or shipped. Shipped works must be sent in an easily reusable container/packaging with return shipping prepaid. All work must arrive at Manifest by the specified date (December 6, 2025). Calendar: Deadline to Submit (October 19, 2025). Notifications sent by email (November 3, 2025). Artwork due (December 6, 2025). Special Preview Event (December 11, 2025). Opening Reception (December 12, 2025). Final Day of Exhibition (January 9, 2026). Pick-up hand-delivered work (January 10-17, 2026). Schedule shipped artwork for pickup (January 14, 2026). Insurance: Works will be insured by Manifest while on gallery premises. Insurance covers theft, vandalism, damage caused by gallery patrons or staff. Insurance does not cover damage caused during shipping or due to failure of the work itself, its mounting systems, or degradation. Entry Fee: Entry after September 1 and by October 19 (Final Deadline) is $60 for up to five entries submitted, $5 per each additional entry. Fees are non-refundable. Number of entries is unlimited, but recommended maximum is 12. Entry fee must be paid by U.S. check or money order made payable to MANIFEST, or by credit card via PayPal. Manifest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and state-funded charitable organization. Sale of Work: All work, unless indicated as not for sale (NFS), will be available for sale during exhibit. Manifest Gallery will retain a commission of 30% of the sale price. Submission Images: Manifest accepts only digital images/files for consideration. The Gallery will retain the submitted images of accepted artwork and reserves the right to use the images in publications and gallery publicity. Images must be uploaded using the Dropbox button provided after entry form submission. Files must be named with artist's last name_first name_entry number. High quality JPEG format, no smaller than 1000 pixels in any direction and 72 dpi. Video submissions should be in the form of a link to a viewable online copy of each work AND a single representative jpeg image. Agreement to Participate: Submitting the entry form indicates agreement with the conditions of entry and exhibit.

What is Offered

The Manifest Prize, a cash award of $10,000, and a four-week solo exhibit of the single winning work of art. Four finalist works will be included in the season-documenting publication, the Manifest Exhibition Annual, and each awarded $250. The winner will also receive a free copy of the large-format hardcover book.

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 through mid-January. Open to exceptional original works of visual art, design, or high craftsmanship of any kind. Works must be gallery-ready and exhibit good craftsmanship. Digital images/files are required, named as per specifications.

How to Apply

Find the required ENTRY FORM HERE (https://www.manifestgallery.org/one/entry/index.html). Images must be uploaded using the Dropbox button provided after entry form submission. If sending entry fee by check, please be sure it is postmarked by the deadline and mailed to Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 16th Annual MANIFEST PRIZE, P.O. Box 6218, Cincinnati, OH 45206.