ART. 1 – GOALS

The Cultural Association MoCA, organizes the 21st Edition of Arte Laguna Prize, International Contemporary Art Award aimed at promoting and enhancing Contemporary Art.

The Prize is organized annually with the patronage of the the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Veneto Region, the Municipality of Venice, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Ca’ Foscari University, Confcommercio Treviso, Confindustria Veneto Est; it obtained a medal from the President of the Italian Republic and recognition by important members of the Advisory Council.

The contest features collaborations with international art galleries, companies, art residencies and festivals with  inclusion into the web portal Arte Laguna World and the participation in the Finalist Artists collective exhibition at the Arsenale Nord of Venice, Italy from November 6 to November 29, 2026.

ART. 2 – TECHNIQUES

The Prize is open to all, regardless of age, sex, nationality or other qualification. Each artist can participate by submitting a portfolio of artworks that may have been previously exhibited, giving priority to the entry of recently produced works. The theme is free. Below are the techniques admitted to the competition and the maximum dimensions to be respected:

Painting
works made with technical and stylistic freedom (oil, tempera, acrylic, ink, vinyl, watercolor, graphite, pencil, collage, aquatint, etching and prints of different kind, etc.) on any support (canvas, paper, wood, plastics, iron, etc.). The maximum size allowed is 175 cm per side.

Sculpture and Installation
works created with any organic or inorganic material, which may include sounds, lights, videos and mechanical or electrical movements. The maximum size allowed is: base 4 meters, depth 4 meters, height 8 meters and there is no weight limit. The exhibition space does not have dark spaces.

Photographic Art
photographs or series of photographs on analog or digital support, colored or black and white photographs. The maximum size allowed is 175 cm per side.

Video Art and Short films
Video, film, slow motion, time-lapse, and works created using all animation techniques on both digital and analog mediums, including short films, promotional videos, and computer graphics are accepted. Multi-channel works are not accepted. Maximum duration is 15 minutes. For submission, the video file must be uploaded online and not exceed 500 MB. All the finalists artworks will be presented on a single screen in loop.

Performance and Acting (Stage and video)
Performances realized by one or more artists using any technique and expressive form, with the assistance of any supporting material provided by the artist, are accepted. Finalist artists will perform during the inauguration evening or the following days, presenting a performance version not exceeding 10 minutes. The material necessary for the performance is charged to the finalists, must be removed at the end of the performance and should not occupy more than 4×4 m. Monologues or scenes up to 10 minutes in any language (with English translation) from any type of theatrical performance or audiovisual work by one or more artists, in any acting style, genre, or technique, are also accepted. All the finalists artworks will be presented on a single screen in loop.

Virtual and Digital Art
works entirely created using the computer or digital applications and devices: videos, installations, performances in which the use of digital media plays a key role in the creative process and content; net art, software, interactive devices, videogames, augmented reality projects, rapid prototyping, etc. Additive Art, Bio Art, Data Art, Digital Communities, Digital Performances, Digital Poetry, Game Art, Generative art & Algorithmic Art, Mobile Art & App Art, Net Art, Electronic Art, Robotics Art, XR Art, Blockchain & NFT Art, Metaverse Art, GAN Art & OpenAI Art, Chrypto Art. The works which require an installation must be adaptable to the available exhibition space and must not exceed 4×4 m x 8 m in height.

Digital Graphics and Cartoon
Images and works generated or modified using a computer, tablet, smartphone, or applications including Digital Painting, GIF Art, Digital Animation, Infographic Art, Glitch Art, where technological intervention is predominant, are included. This encompasses digital painting, cartoons, comics, GIFs, and photographs where manipulation is predominant. Finalist works will be exhibited on a monitor or printed on a two-dimensional support with a maximum size of 175 cm per side.

Environmental / Land Art
Artworks or projects of environmental and landscape art where the artistic intervention interacts with the environment for which it was designed. There are no limitations on the choice of specific environment. The works and projects presented concern nature and its characteristics and more generally the environment or landscape in which they are located. Finalist works will be exhibited on explanatory panels.

Urban Art and Street Art
Works or projects of urban art, redevelopment, street art, graffiti, and stencil art where the artistic intervention relates to the urban fabric and public space in which it is conceived and may involve the use of any technique (spray cans, artistic stickers, normographic art, video projections, installations, etc.). There are no limitations on the choice of intervention location. Finalist works will be displayed on explanatory panels.

Art Design
Productions originating in the artistic sphere and finding application in the world of design. Works, products, projects where artistic influence and inspiration are evident. Finalists must present the product on a full-scale or scaled-down prototype based on the exhibition choices of the organization.

ART. 3 – JURY

The entries will be judged by an international jury. The jury will select the 120 finalists who will exhibit at the Arsenale Nord of Venice.

Sarah Crowe, Austria
Freelance Curator, Writer And Art Researcher.

Yuko Hasegawa, Japan
Independent Curator, Art Historian and Director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa.

Jemima Kulumba, Belgium
Co-founder of Biennale of Women in Art (WIA), Independent Curator and Art Consultant.

Wang Chunchen, China
Professor and chief curator at CAFA Art Museum, Beijing.

Hèlio Menezes, Brazil
Art Curator.

Gianluigi Ricuperati, Italy
Independent Curator, Art director and writer.

Linzi Stauvers, UK
Artistic Director at Ikon Gallery.

ART. 4 – PRIZES

INSTITUTIONAL PRIZES

• 1 cash prize of 10.000 €* for the overall winner.
  *By law, on all the money prizes a withholding of 25% will be required.
• Free visibility on the web portal artelaguna.world
  Each artist has free online visibility on the international portal Arte Laguna World, digital platform for the promotion, enhancement and sale of contemporary art works.

FINALISTS’ EXHIBITION
The 120 finalists selected by the international jury will participate in the collective exhibition that will be held in Venice, at the Arsenale Nord from November 6 to November 29, 2026.

All submitted works remain the property of the artists. Any artist may propose to donate his or her work to MoCA, which may accept the donation, committing to display it, after Venice, in art centers, palaces and public places, for the purpose of the artist’s continued promotion and sale.

The exhibition will be organized by Arte Laguna srl and the MoCA Cultural Association. The costs of transport and return, materials necessary for the realization to the finalist work (including any digital media, hanging materials and any specific support of the work) and the insurance of the works is to be paid by the individual artist. At the end of the exhibition each artist must arrange for the collection of materials used, no material should be left at the exhibition space (for the disposal of bulky materials will be charged to the artists the corresponding fee).

SPECIAL PRIZES
The Special Prizes are made in collaboration with high-level international partners who will each choose a winner to offer new career opportunities and visibility to the participating artists. The Special Prizes include collaborations with art galleries, art residencies, collaboration with companies, participation in art festivals.

Arte Laguna Prize undertakes to guide the selected artist through the initial communication phase with the partner and will monitor the progress. The creation of the Prize is entrusted to the Partner in consultation with the artist. Arte Laguna Prize cannot be held responsible for cancellation or modification of the prize due to force majeure or events beyond the control of the Organization, including the cessation of activity by the partners.

Participation in the Special Prizes is free for all artists registered to the 21st edition of Arte Laguna Prize but requires filling out a dedicated form.

➜ Art Residencies
To participate is required, for each of the residencies, a cover letter (file pdf) in which is possible to include some pictures of the artworks. The pdf file, max 4 mb, has to be uploaded in the dedicated form that you can find in the reserved area used to make the contest application.

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China
Art residency of 3 months for 1 artist.
The residency includes: round-trip journey, accommodation with breakfast (B&B) and studio in one of the 18 apartments in the historic palace on the Bund in Shanghai, involvement in the local artistic scene and in all the activities related to The Swatch Art Peace Hotel. An artistic “trace” will be given to The Swatch Art Peace Hotel and it will be included in international exhibitions during and after the residency.

MoCA Art Residency, Venice, Italy
Art Residency of 15 days in Venice and Treviso. The Prize offers to the winning artist the opportunity to experience the Venetian artistic and cultural scene. The Residency includes: accommodation, cultural visits.

BigCi, Bilpin, Australia
4 weeks residency. Included: accommodation, shared living facilities (bathroom, kitchen, internet, electricity, water), projection and video room, 8 acres of land for various activities, guided trekking in the Blue Mountains, Open Day Exhibition at the end of the residency, possibility to hold an art talk, make a performance, workshop or similar events, representation on the website and social of BigCi. The residency aims to help artists’ professional development and facilitating their projects.

NY20+, Chengdu, China
Art Residency of 31 days, at Nongyuan Culture in Chengdu, China.
The residency includes: accommodation in furnished and equipped private or shared bedrooms, standard breakfast, lunch and dinner and use of private or shared studios/workspaces. During the residency, the artists will participate in exhibitions organized by NY20+, meetings, seminars and talks to introduce them to collectors, art critics, the press, students and other local artists.

LITIX, Carrara, Italy
Art residency of 14 days at LITIX, a company that combines art and advanced technologies; a sculpture, contemporary art and design laboratory specialized in the integration of multi-axis industrial robots for stone milling. The residency includes the stay in a dedicated apartment in the heart of the Apuan Alps, the main area for the extraction of the famous Carrara marble, training in the company with in-depth studies on traditional techniques and new robotic technologies, creation of a work that will remain the property of the artist, prize for the artist of 1500 €.

LAB852 Art Residency, Hvar Croatia
Art residency of min. 2 weeks max. 2 months.
The residency includes: round-trip travel, accommodation and studio, materials and production support, curators’ support and mentorship, meetings, seminars and talks to introduce the artist to collectors, art critics, press, students and other local artists, connections with community and collaborators, Open Studio, participation at Jelsa Art Biennal.

Estudio Rambar, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
2 weeks of Art Residency in Las Catalinas, Guanacaste (Costa Rica) for one artist.
The residency includes: Accommodation and meals, Open studio, Materials, Meetings/Seminars/Talks to introduce the artist to Collectors, Art Critics, Press, Art students and other local artists. Solo exhibition and opening at Estudio Rambar for one night, Group exhibition at Estudio Rambar and Artistic representation by the studio. One of the works created during the residency will remain property of Estudio Rambar.

Culver City Art Foundation, California, USA
Art Residency of 1 month for three artists.
The residency includes accommodation in a private room, work studio and final exhibition. During the one-month stay, artists will take part in meetings, seminars, talks, will be involved in the local art scene, and join the network’s community and local institutions. The residency will take place in 2027.

Château de Leignon, Ciney Belgium
Art Residency of 2 weeks for one or more artists.
The residency includes accommodation at Auberge du Château de Leignon, meal, final exhibition.
To participate artists can submit their artworks, a portfolio or specific projects.

➜ Business for Art

To participate is required a specific project or artwork for each partner, that reflects and follows the indications written below. The project has to be presented in a pdf file of max 4mb, can contain text, images and renders. the pdf file has to be attached in the dedicated form, available in the reserved area used to make the contest application.

Gabe Tenute, Treviso, Italy
A cash prize of €2,000 (taxes included) for the winning work or project. Artists will be asked to create a site-specific work to be installed in the secret garden of Borgo di Guia, a site nestled between the UNESCO World Heritage hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. The work will remain the property of the company.

FOMAS Group, Lecco, Italy
Special Prize with early deadline: Registration closes June 1, 2026.

Three cash prizes will be awarded:
– €7,000*
– €4,000*
– €3,000*
*gross.

The competition is open to all categories (painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, etc.). Submissions are required, in the format of a painting or hanging, with a maximum size of 3 x 2 m and created with any material or technique.
The works must depict the journey of steel from hot to cold, from the living and fluid incandescent casting that then cools until it finds its final form.
It is the story of a metamorphosis, in which energy calms and becomes surface, steel becoming a symbol of transformation between the chaos of heat and the perfection of cold.
Unconventional materials may also be used to evoke temperatures, tensions, and states, the flow of liquid and the stillness of matter. Works ranging from abstract to figurative are eligible, taking into account the company’s slogan, “Mastering the science of metals,” and the products created: forgings, rolled rings, and metal powders.

The winning works will remain the property of FOMAS Group. The winning artists cede to FOMAS ownership of the work and the rights to its economic exploitation, reproduction, communication to the public, exhibition, distribution, digitization, and use for institutional and promotional purposes.

More information >

➜ Sustainability and Solidarity

Creative projects to raise awareness about environmental sustainability, as well as social issues, empathy, and humanity. To participate, please fill out a form with a dedicated project.

Ricardo Palma University, Lima, Peru – (Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism)
Residency of ART and ARCHITECTURE for 1 month for one artist at the School of Architecture of Ricardo Palma University in Lima. The Special Prize is dedicated to the theme “Integrating ART, DESIGN, and ARCHITECTURE,” and particular consideration will be given to proposals addressing sustainability, energy efficiency, vernacular design, green architecture, design with plant fibers, or works made with biomaterials.
The winning artist will be hosted in residence at the School of Architecture of Ricardo Palma University in Lima.
The residency includes: accommodation with breakfast, use of academic and research facilities (particularly the Research and Innovation in Sculpture and Architecture laboratory), final exhibition at the Ccori Wasi Cultural Center in Lima.
During the residency, the artist will participate in training activities, workshops, open labs (3D modeling, ceramic sculpture), and conferences aimed at the university community and will be supported in establishing local artistic and academic connections in particular with the Ccori Wasi Cultural Center in Miarflores, Lina and the CAP – Colegio de Arquitectos del Perù.
Applications are required to submit works or projects on the proposed theme “Integrating ART, DESIGN, and ARCHITECTURE.”

➜ Festivals and Exhibitions

International collaborations with festivals to create a network connecting artists, visibility, and new projects.

Galata – Museo del Mare, Genoa, Italy
International collective exhibition. The museum will exhibit 15-20 artists at the Galata – Museo del Mare, Genoa, in the Galleria delle Esposizioni, from March 10 to 31, 2027. The exhibition includes set-up, dismantling, promotion through the museum’s channels, and the official opening event.
Works created using painting, photography, sculpture, and installation techniques are eligible (sculptures measuring up to 80 x 80 x 150 cm and weighing 50 kg). Submitted works must adhere to the theme of “Marine Routes,” freely interpreting it in relation to migration, the identity of travel, the sea as a place of encounter, navigation as a metaphor for discovery, and the connection between man and the sea. Metaphorical, conceptual, and poetic approaches are welcome.
To participate, artists must submit a PDF with a project description (maximum 500 words), 3 to 10 images of the proposed work, or an updated portfolio, along with the artwork’s technical specifications (dimensions, materials, installation requirements).

➜ Art Galleries

Exhibtion in Galleries all over the world.

Gallery Studio 76, Bucharest, Romania
the gallery will select an artist, or an artwork, among the finalists to be exhibited in its spaces.

Crossing Art Rising Stars, New York, United States / Shanghai, China
Solo and group exhibition in 2027, in New York or Shanghai for 1 artist. The prize includes professional support in project positioning, exhibition planning, artist narrative, bilingual materials, online and offline promotion, on-site presentation guidance, and invitation support for collectors and curators.

PAINTING SPECIAL PRIZE

A total of €5,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to three artists. The winners will be selected by the Special Prize Jury chaired by professor and artist Yu Ming.

PRIZE CATEGORIES:
Painting Special Award (All Painting Media)
€2,000 Cash Prize.
Open to artworks created using any painting technique and medium.

Grand Prize for Oil Painting
1st Prize: €2,000 Cash Prize
2nd Prize: €1,000 Cash Prize.
Open exclusively to artworks created using oil painting techniques.

To participate in the Painting Special Prize, artists must submit a dedicated PDF portfolio (maximum file size: 4 MB) containing examples of their painting works. The portfolio must clearly specify the technique used for each artwork. The PDF file must be uploaded through the dedicated Painting Special Prize application form available in the participant’s reserved area of the Art Laguna Prize online application platform. Only applications that comply with the above requirements will be considered for the Painting Special Prize selection.

More info ->

ART. 5 – CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

To apply to the competition it’s necessary to login to artelaguna.world web portal, create the reserved area, fill in the profile and pay the entry fee. The works to submit can be uploaded also later, until the final applications’ deadline June 30th, 2026 July 15th, 2026.

From the reserved area, artists can submit the works for Arte Laguna Prize 21 and publish and sell works on Arte Laguna World. On the welcome page, artists must check the summary of their works.

It is also possible to register by e-mail by requesting a dedicated form to info@artelagunaprize.com.

ENTRY FEES

There is no age limit to apply to the contest.
The fees are:

• € 97,6 for artists under 35 (born after January 1, 1991);
• € 122 for artists over 35 (born before or in 1990).

Artists under 35 must attach a copy of their ID when applying.
Prices indicated include tax. The fee allows to submit 5 works also in different sections. Each additional work, following the fifth, costs 24,40 € per work. Artists must keep a copy of the payment. The entry fee is not refundable.

The payment of the entry fee can be made:

• On-line
  Automatic connection from the reserved area. It also includes payments with virtual pos and WeChat.
• Paypal
  Automatic connection from the reserved area. The use of PayPal involves an additional transaction cost of 5€.
• Bank transfer
  BANCA POPOLARE DELL’EMILIA ROMAGNA – Fil. Mestre
  IBAN: IT52R0538702000000002950941 – BIC / BC NR / SWIFT: BPMOIT22XXX – addressed to Arte Laguna srl, with the reason “Application Prize 2026 – name, surname and telephone number of the artist”. Any transfer fee charges are not accepted, on penalty of the cancellation of your registration. Payment by bank transfer takes approximately 5 business days to be processed by the administration. The payment date will be used to verify correct registration for the Open Call.
• At the Secretariat of Arte Laguna Prize Arte Laguna
  Via Roma 29/A – Mogliano Veneto (TV) Tel. 041 5937242 Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. by appointment.

Cheques are not accepted.

ART. 6 – SELECTION PROCESS

The works will be evaluated taking into consideration the characteristics of contemporary international art and various artistic trends, according to qualitative criteria, research, and technical capabilities. The jury reserves the right to evaluate all submitted material.

The selection results will be announced online at artelagunaprize.com. Participants will not receive personal or individual commentary on the submitted works. The proclamation of the Overall Winners will take place during the opening of the finalist artists exhibition at the Arsenale Nord of Venice.
The decisions of the Awarding Juries are irrevocable and unquestionable.

ART. 7 – RESPONSIBILITIES

Arte Laguna srl and the Cultural Association MoCA, while guaranteeing the greatest care and custody of the works, will not be liable for any thefts, fires or any damages to the artworks or people that could occur during all the stages of the event. Any insurance is responsibility of the artists.

ART. 8 – AGREEMENT