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Art Call for Contemporary Realist Painting Awards

Inviting artists from around the world, this competition showcases outstanding contemporary realist painting at the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art. It offers artists a respected platform to exhibit their work, compete for significant awards, connect with peers, and contribute to the ongoing tradition of representational art.

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EXHIBITION & PUBLICITY

An integral part of the competition is the exhibition and public recognition of the finalists’ works. The finalists' paintings will be showcased in a three month long exhibition at the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art May 13th – August 16th, 2026, NSMA's busiest season of the year, providing finalists with a platform for broad recognition and appreciation.

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ACQUISITION AWARD: $35,000

What distinguishes this competition most notably is its approach to the Grand Prize: a $35,000 Acquisition Award for the selected painting to join NSMA’s permanent collection. Rather than a single juror or panel selecting the winner, the finalists themselves will determine the recipient of the Acquisition Award. Each finalist has the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite work in the exhibition – excluding their own – ensuring that the museum acquires a piece that is not only of the highest artistic merit, but also one that is most admired by the very artists who stand among the best of their field.

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

NSMA will also host a People’s Choice Award. Voting will be open to all museum visitors during the length of the two month finalist exhibition, and the winner will receive $2,500.

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DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD

NSMA is collaborating with Michael Harding Oil Paint to offer $2,500 in fine artist supplies. Michael Harding is renowned for making some of the finest quality hand made oil paints in the world. This award will be chosen by NSMA Director, painter Michael Klein, at the awards gala.

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JUDGING

A panel of jurors will select up to 50 finalists based on artistic merit and technical skill. These finalists will select a single Acquisition Award winner on the opening night through a private voting process in which each finalist must vote for a painting other than their own.

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ALL SUBJECT MATTER WELCOME - Portrait, Figure, Landscape, Still Life, etc.

DEADLINE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15TH

NewSalemMuseum.com/Competition