The overwhelming response to the first edition of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024, with 1692 applicants from 109 countries, reveals the challenges many emerging artists face in gaining recognition and reaching a wider audience. This significant number of submissions, representing artists from six continents—Europe (897), Asia (401), Africa (115), North America (112), South America (96), and Australia/Oceania (71)—demonstrates the global need for platforms that provide visibility for new talents.
With 3784 artworks submitted across four categories—Painting (39%), Photography (25%), Mixed Media (19%), and Drawing (17%)—it’s clear that artists are eager for opportunities to stand out in an increasingly competitive art world. The massive interest highlights how difficult it can be for emerging artists to distinguish themselves without the right support.
The scan.art Emerging Artist Prize solidifies its mission to offer these artists a well-structured platform that not only showcases their work but also connects them with top-tier partners in the art industry. The prize, supported by three major international art fairs, gives emerging talent the chance to be seen and celebrated on a global scale.
The application period, which ran from April 15th to September 8th, 2024, peaked with 119 submissions in a single day on August 30th, further showing the demand for such opportunities. With over 1100 emails received during the application phase, the interest and passion from the art community have been clear.
Now, a distinguished jury of seven art experts will review the submitted works to select 24 finalists, reinforcing the value of a fair and well-organized art prize. These finalists, six per category, will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Bakerhouse Gallery in Graz on October 18th, 2024. This exhibition will mark a significant step for many artists in their careers, with winners gaining further exposure at the Discovery Art Fair in Frankfurt (November 1-3, 2024) and World Art Dubai (April 16-20, 2025).
This massive response strengthens our commitment to helping emerging artists access opportunities and build meaningful connections in the art world. For more details, visit: scan.art Emerging Artist Prize.
