The Artist Prize Launches with £30,000 Award and Solo Exhibition at Firstsite

The Artist Prize, a significant new open submission art competition across the UK, has been established through a collaboration between Firstsite in Colchester and Zealous. This prize is accessible to artists at any stage of their careers and in any artistic medium, offering a £30,000 award along with a solo exhibition to one selected winner. It ranks among the largest open-submission art prizes in the UK. A panel comprising approximately 80 judges from various arts organizations nationwide will curate a long list of 200 artists, set to be revealed in August 2026. Artist Jeremy Deller will be part of the final selection panel. The initiative seeks to honor creativity throughout the UK, emphasizing its diverse nature.