THE MANIFEST PRIZE

About the Open Call

The 16th Annual Manifest Prize, now updated to offer a $10,000 award, aims to recognize, showcase, celebrate, and document exceptional artwork. The prize is open to works of any media, genre, or style, with no size restrictions beyond what can be displayed in the gallery. The jury and judging process has no stylistic or media-based preference or bias, utilizing a multi-round blind jury process with up to 18 anonymous professional jurors. 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, to January 9, 2026. The Manifest Board of Directors has also approved additional cash awards of $250 for four runner-up finalists, who will also be recognized and published. The $10,000 award-winning work will be unveiled at the gallery on December 11th during a ticketed preview event. The Manifest Prize is completely separate from the season's nine Grand Jury Awards. The winner will receive a free copy of the large-format hardcover Manifest Exhibition Annual publication. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery. Works will be insured by Manifest while on gallery premises, but not during shipping or for inherent flaws. Submitting an entry implies agreement to these conditions and the availability of the work for exhibition if selected.

What is Offered

A $10,000 cash award, a four-week solo exhibition of the single winning work in one of Manifest's five galleries, recognition and publication in the Manifest Exhibition Annual, and four runner-up awards of $250 each with publication.

Requirements

Works must be original and represent exceptional visual art, design, or high craftsmanship. Entries 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. All work accepted must arrive gallery-ready and exhibit professional-level presentation and craftsmanship. Works differing significantly from entry images or suffering from poor presentation will be disqualified. Artists must adhere to digital image/video submission specifications, including file naming and providing viewable links without login/password requirements. Submission constitutes a formal agreement to provide the work for exhibit should it be selected, and artists must not double-book or sell their work if selected.

How to Apply

Artists must submit an entry form available at https://www.manifestgallery.org/one/entry/index.html. Digital images/files of the artwork must be uploaded using the Dropbox button provided after entry form submission. Files should be named with the artist's last name, first name, and entry number (e.g., Jones_Mike_1.jpg), with 'detail' included for additional views. Video submissions require a link to a viewable online copy and a single representative JPEG image. Entry fees can be paid by U.S. check, money order, or credit card via PayPal, using the link provided after form submission. Mailed checks should be sent to Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 16th Annual MANIFEST PRIZE, P.O. Box 6218, Cincinnati, OH 45206.