Competitions and awards

There is a distinction between competing for a prize through a competition and receiving an award as an honour for services or abilities (oeuvre prize). Sometimes artists can apply or be invited, and sometimes they have to be nominated.

A selection of awards for young artists

Prix de Rome is the oldest and most important award in the Netherlands for artists below the age of 35 years. The Prix de Rome Fine Art is awarded once every two years. The award entails a prize of € 40,000 and a working period in Rome.

Van Bommel van Dam prijs is an incentive prize from the museum of modern art in Venlo with the same name. The competition is for young artists under 35 years of age and working in the flat field (painting, drawing, photography, graphics). The prize consists of a certificate, an amount of € 5,000, participation in an exhibition and the purchase of a work. Twelve artists are selected by a team of selectors from the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Charlotte Köhler Prijzen are incentive prizes which were set up in 1988 thanks to a bequest from the actress Charlotte Köhler. The prizes are awarded annually to Dutch artists under the age of 35 in the fields of the visual arts and theatre. The award entails a prize of € 20,000.

Doesjenel Prize is a biennial prize for young professional artists aged 35 or younger with a connection to Leiden. A professional jury selects three nominees for an exhibition in Museum De Lakenhal. The winner also receives an amount of €5,000 and an object designed by Judith Bloedjes.

Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst (royal subsidy for painting) is founded by king Willem III in 1871. The prize intends to encourage young talented painters. It is awarded annually by King Willem-Alexander to a number of painters under 35.

Kunstweek organises the Artist of the Year election annually. At the same time, the Talent of the Year and the Brilliant Artist of the Year are also named. A panel of about 90 art experts initially nominates a large number of artists. The public then decides, together with the panel, who will be the winner through voting rounds.

Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs Initiative of newspaper the Volkskrant in collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Avro Tros and the Rabobank. Each year, three artists are nominated for a cash prize of € 20,000, half of which goes to a book publication. There is also an audience award of € 2,500.

Theodora Niemeijerprijs is a price to stimulate the work of young, female artists that is handed out once every two years. The winner not only receives an amount of € 10,000 euro but she will also exhibit in the Van Abbemuseum for half a year.

Hermine van Bers kunstprijs is a price to stimulate the work of young artists and is awarded alternately in Leiden and Maastricht each year. The prize contains € 2,500 and a medal.

Buning Brongers Prijs is a biennial Dutch art prize for young artists. The award consists of a prize of € 4,500, an exhibition held in Arti et Amicitiae and publication in a catalog. The candidates for the prize are nominated by art schools.

Cobra Kunstprijs of the Cobra Museum of Modern Art is awarded every two years to an artist that makes innovative work that demonstrates experiment, commitment and radicality in the spirit of the Cobra movement. The award consists of a prize of € 10,000, an exhibition held at the Cobra Museum and a publication or catalog.

Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize is a biennial prize in recognition and encouragement for a very talented artist in the Netherlands, awarded by the Alfred Heineken Foundation. Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Art includes a trophy, a publication and/or exhibition (worth € 50,000) and a cash prize of € 50,000.

Painting of the year is an annual painting competition for artists from all over the world, where you can win a sales exhibition at Art Eindhoven. The winner will receive € 2,022 (one euro more every year).