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. A several round blind jury process is used, with as many as 18 purposely anonymous professional jurors scoring the works. Works submitted must have been completed within the past five years (2020-2025). The winning work must be available for exhibition from December 12, 2025 - January 9, 2026. 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 approved additional cash awards for the works selected as the runners-up. In addition to being recognized and documented in the Manifest Exhibition Annual publication, the artists of these four works will receive $250. The $10,000 award-winning work will be unveiled at the gallery on December 11th during the ticketed preview event. In our 22nd season, the increase in the annual Manifest Prize (ONE) award amount to $10,000 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. The competitive peer-review jury process aims to select ONE work to be exhibited in one of our five galleries for a four-week period, as the recipient of the MANIFEST PRIZE 2025. The cash award is $10,000 and includes a four-week solo exhibit of the single winning work 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. 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. 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 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. The work receiving the highest average score will be awarded the prize. The four next highest scoring works will be the finalists (runners up), each awarded $250. Publication: The winner of the Manifest Prize will receive a free copy of the large-format hardcover Manifest Exhibition Annual book, documenting each entire season of exhibits, artists, and works. 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. Accepted work that differs significantly from entry images or suffers from poor presentation will be disqualified. Work may be hand-delivered or shipped in easily reusable packaging with return shipping prepaid. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery. Works will be returned via UPS/USPS or in the same manner as delivered. Works not claimed within 30 days of the end of the exhibit will become the property of Manifest. Insurance: Works will be insured by Manifest while on gallery premises (theft, vandalism, damage by patrons/staff). Insurance does not cover damage during shipping, mishandling by carrier, failure of packaging, damage by failure of the work itself, or incidental damage to high-risk presentations. Artists may be required to provide proof of value.

What is Offered

The winning artist receives a $10,000 cash award and a four-week solo exhibition of their work at the Manifest Creative Research Gallery. Four finalist artists each receive a $250 cash award. All awarded and finalist works will be documented in the Manifest Exhibition Annual hard-cover publication.

Requirements

Works 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. Entries must be exceptional original works of visual art, design, or high craftsmanship, suitable for exhibition in one of Manifest's galleries. Accepted work must arrive gallery-ready with professional-level presentation and craftsmanship. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery. Submission constitutes a formal agreement to provide the work for exhibit should it be selected.

How to Apply

Artists must submit an entry form via the provided link (https://www.manifestgallery.org/one/entry/index.html). Digital images of artwork (JPEG, 72 dpi, no smaller than 1000 pixels in any direction, named as lastname_firstname_entrynumber.jpg) must be uploaded via the Dropbox link provided after entry form submission. Video entries require an online viewing link and a representative JPEG image. The entry fee can be paid by U.S. check, money order, or credit card via PayPal, with checks mailed to Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 16th Annual MANIFEST PRIZE, P.O. Box 6218, Cincinnati, OH 45206.