The John Ruskin Prize 2027 International Art and Design Competition with GBP 9,500 in Prizes
Applicant criteria
- No specific age required
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
The John Ruskin Prize is accepting entries for its ninth edition in 2027 under the theme Not for Present Delight. It is one of the leading international multidisciplinary awards and competitions in art, design, and craft, and is open to artists, designers, and makers from around the world.
The competition invites participants to submit works that explore the idea of creating not only for the present, but also with consideration for the future and the long-term impact of art and design, particularly in the context of challenges such as environmental sustainability and social inequality.
The total prize fund is GBP 9,500, distributed across four main awards. A selection of works will also be chosen for inclusion in The John Ruskin Prize exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London during 2027.
Eligible Fields and Types of Work
Participants may submit two-dimensional or three-dimensional works across a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Painting.
- Photography.
- Sculpture.
- Printmaking.
- Ceramics.
- Glass.
- Textiles and fabric-based work.
- Lettering and typography.
- Metalwork.
- Collage.
- Digital art.
- Animation.
- Film and video.
- Performance art presented in video format.
- Installation art.
- Mixed-media work.
- Works combining traditional techniques with digital elements.
Benefits
The prizes are distributed as follows:
- First Prize: GBP 3,000.
- The Alan Davidson Under 26 Prize: GBP 1,000 for participants under the age of 26.
- Ruskin Mill Trust Prize: GBP 3,000, awarded to a functional work demonstrating outstanding craftsmanship and design quality.
- Chelsea Arts Club Trust Prize: GBP 2,500 for a mid-career artist with an established body of experience who is not currently represented by a commercial gallery.
Eligibility criteria
Applications are open to:
- Artists.
- Designers.
- Craftspeople and makers.
- Amateurs.
- Professionals.
- Individuals.
- Artistic teams and groups.
Applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be of any nationality and from any country worldwide.
- Submit work that relates to the competition theme, Not for Present Delight.
- Submit work created within the last four years.
- Submit the work digitally at the initial stage, as the judging process is conducted online.
- Note that multi-part installations, diptychs, and triptychs may be considered a single work for submission purposes.
Submission Requirements
Entries must be submitted online, and applicants should:
- Provide the dimensions and basic details of the work.
- Upload up to 3 images per artwork.
- Submit images in JPEG format.
- Ensure that each image does not exceed 5 MB.
- Ensure that framed two-dimensional works do not exceed 2.4 metres in any dimension.
- Ensure that three-dimensional works do not exceed 2.4 metres in height.
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