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Event History
The Salon Art Prize, formerly known as the PleinAir Salon Art Competition, has been awarding cash prizes and promoting artists for 16 years. In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual competition, with 11 monthly cycles, leading to the Annual Competition, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition. The competition rewards artists with over $65,000 in all cash prizes and exposure of their work, with the winning paintings featured on the covers of PleinAir and Fine Art Connoisseur magazines. Winners in each monthly competition may receive recognition and exposure through the magazines, e-newsletters, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition that is awarded each spring.
What Makes this event different?
We are a completely online competition so there is no mailing your artwork for an exhibition. You are also able to submit paintings whether they have won another competition or not. There are two Grand Prize Winners, each receiving a check for $15,000—and one featured on the cover of PleinAir Magazine and one on the cover of Fine Art Connoisseur.
Copyright Policy
By entering the Salon Art Prize, you agree that you are submitting images of your own original artwork and not that of other artists or material in which you do not hold the copyright. The original work does not have to currently be in your possession.
Image Usage Rights
You are also agreeing, in advance, to have your submitted artwork and your image published to any print or digital/electronic property of Streamline Publishing, Inc, the parent company of Salon Art Prize. This includes, but is not limited to, print and digital magazines, newsletters, websites, e-mails, social media pages, and promotional materials in perpetuity.
The Salon Art Prize: Art Competition
The Salon Art Prize, formerly known as the PleinAir Salon Art Competition, is an annual art competition that has supported artists through cash awards and professional exposure for 16 years. Inspired by the French Salon established by the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the competition aims to encourage artistic development and excellence through a structured program of monthly competitions leading to an annual awards cycle.
Prizes and Recognition
The Salon Art Prize awards more than $65,000 in cash prizes each year. Two Annual Grand Prize winners each receive $15,000, with their winning paintings featured on the covers of PleinAir magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur, respectively.
The competition also provides artists with opportunities to showcase their work and gain recognition within the art community.
Competition Structure
The competition includes 11 monthly cycles leading to the Annual Competition, giving artists multiple opportunities to enter their work throughout the year.
Annual Awards
The annual competition offers $41,250 in cash awards, along with publication and promotional opportunities.
PleinAir Grand Prize: $15,000 cash prize and a cover feature in PleinAir magazine
Fine Art Connoisseur Grand Prize: $15,000 cash prize and a cover feature in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine
Second Place: $4,000 cash prize and a feature in the digital edition of PleinAir magazine
Third Place: $2,000 cash prize
Honorable Mentions (3): $750 each
Best Medium Awards (6): $500 each
All annual award winners also receive exposure through the magazines’ e-newsletters, websites, and social media channels.
Monthly Awards
Across the 11 monthly competition cycles, artists receive a combined total of $25,750 in cash awards.
First Place Overall: $600
Second Place Overall: $400
Third Place Overall: $300
Category Awards (19): $50 each
For details about additional benefits and recognition available to winners, visit https://TheSalonArtPrize.com/cfe.
Annual Awards Ceremony
The Annual Awards will be presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo in May 2027.
For more information and to apply, please visit the Event Website.
