[Pittsburgh Foundation](https://pittsburghfoundation.org)

October 4, 2024 | September 19, 2026

$75,000 to winner (paid over two years) | $10,000 runner-up | 10 finalists in traveling exhibition

Supports women figurative realist painters in the U.S. to create a solo exhibition and advance their careers.

Open only to women painters working in figurative realism who have not received major art prizes or sales.

--- ## Description The Bennett Prize is a biennial award established to propel the careers of women figurative realist painters who have not yet achieved full professional recognition. The Prize awards $75,000 to one artist, enabling her to create a solo exhibition of new work that tours nationally. Ten finalists are selected for a group traveling exhibition, and a runner-up receives a $10,000 award. The Prize aims to increase visibility for women artists working in the figurative realist tradition and expand public appreciation for this genre. --- ## Due Dates - October 4, 2024: Entry/Application deadline (Round 4 call; CaFÉ entry deadline — 11:59 PM MST) - September 19, 2026: Call for Entries closes / Full application deadline for Round 5 (11:59 p.m. MST) _All dates are projected based on the biennial cycle; check the program page for updates._ --- ## Funding Amount - **Winner:** $75,000 total, paid as $25,000 per year over two years, to support the creation of a solo exhibition. - **Runner-up:** $10,000 (Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt Prize). - **Finalists:** Ten finalists participate in a national traveling exhibition. - **No additional production or travel stipends are specified for finalists beyond the main and runner-up awards.** --- ## Eligibility - Open to women (including cis, trans, and nonbinary people who identify as women) age 18+ whose primary practice is original figurative realist painting. - Applicants must reside at least part-time in the United States (50 states or Washington, D.C.) and maintain an active studio practice in the U.S. (studio visits are required). - U.S. citizenship is **not** required, but art must ship from within the U.S.; part-time residence and studio presence in the U.S. are mandatory. - Artists must not be full- or part-time students during the finalist period (from entry closing through winner announcement) and, if selected as winner, through the solo exhibition period. - Artists must not have previously received an art prize, grant, or sold any single work for $35,000 or more. - Past winners and finalists are not eligible for subsequent cycles. - Eligible works must be original paintings (oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, gouache, pastel, or mixed media where paint is primary), created in the last five years, and must depict representational images of one or more human figures (any gender). - Paintings rendered over photographic images are not eligible. - Artists must be able to make their works available for exhibition from February 2025 through September 2027. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted digitally via [CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org)](https://www.callforentry.org/); search for "Bennett." - Entry fee: $40. - Submission must include 3–5 paintings and one detail image (total of 4–6 images), with required information (title, media, dimensions). - All entries must conform to CaFÉ digital image requirements. - Incomplete or non-compliant entries will not be juried. - Finalists must participate in the group exhibition and attend the opening event. - Professional photography of works is encouraged but not required. --- ## Additional Information - The Prize is intended to support artists who have not yet received significant professional recognition. - The winner’s solo exhibition will be held at the Muskegon Museum of Art and will travel to other venues. - Finalists and winners may offer their exhibited works for sale (museum commission applies). - The Prize explicitly encourages applications from artists of diverse backgrounds and all women who meet the eligibility requirements. --- ## External Links - [Bennett Prize Official Website](https://thebennettprize.org) - [Call for Entries & Application Instructions](https://www.thebennettprize.org/call-for-entries) - [Entry via CaFÉ](https://www.callforentry.org/) - [FAQs](https://www.thebennettprize.org/call-for-entries/entry-faqs) - [Complete Rules](https://thebennettprize.org/bennett/complete-rules) - [About the Pittsburgh Foundation](https://pittsburghfoundation.org/about) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries| [Contact Form](https://pittsburghfoundation.org/contact-us) | | Phone | 412-391-5122 | | Program Email | [amartin@muskegonartmuseum.org](mailto:amartin@muskegonartmuseum.org) | | Prize Website | [https://thebennettprize.org](https://thebennettprize.org) |

The Bennett Prize

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