Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize
Forecasted
Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize supports visual artists and collaborators through financial awards and exhibitions to develop original work and advance their careers in the greater Baltimore region.
Funder: Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $30,000 prize paid over 12 months; $3,000 for each finalist in the 2026 edition
Summary: An annual prize and exhibitions help visual artists and collaborators in the greater Baltimore region advance their careers and develop original work.
Key Information: Applicants must live and work in an eligible geographic area throughout application and the granting period.
Description
The Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize supports visual artists and visual artist collaborators whose practices are ready for a significant next step. Established in 2006, the annual program is run by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts, with the 2026 edition presented by Create Baltimore and supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Jurors seek an original artistic vision, engagement with contemporary art nationally and internationally, and work on the cusp of a leap that the prize can support.
The program combines financial support with exhibition opportunities. In the 2026 edition, approximately five finalists were to exhibit at the Walters Art Museum, with semifinalists receiving an exhibition at The Peale Museum during Artscape. The prize honors Janet and Walter Sondheim’s contributions to arts and culture in Baltimore City.
