Call for Submissions: The Kingston Prize 2025

2023 Winner: Near the Elevator by Shaun Downey

Call for Submissions: The Kingston Prize 2025
Canada’s National Portrait Competition

Deadline: September 1, 2025

The Kingston Prize, Canada’s national portrait competition, is now accepting submissions. Founded in 2005, the Prize celebrates contemporary portraiture and builds an archive of Canadians by Canadians. The competition invites portraits of Canadian citizens or permanent residents based on real-life connections and encounters. The Kingston Prize actively encourages artists from across the country to submit their work.

Thirty finalists will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges, with the artworks featured in a national touring exhibition. The Kingston Prize offers a platform for exposure, dialogue, and recognition within Canada’s visual arts community.

The winning portrait receives a $25,000 award, with two honourable mentions earning $3,000 each. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2025.

2019 Winner: I like the idea of romantic thoughts, but I’m just not that poetic of a person by Atleigh Homma

Eligibility:
Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or older as of September 1, 2025.

Prize:
First Prize: $25,000
Two Honourable Mentions: $3,000 each

Application Fee:
$40 per entry

*Updated* Submission Requirements:

• Portraits must be recent works (produced between April 26, 2023 and Monday, September 1, 2025).
• Accepted mediums include paintings and drawings.
• Only one entry will be accepted per artist.
• Digital images of the artwork must accompany the submission.
• A one-page document with the artist’s statement about the portrait, biography and CV.
• A completed entry form and the application fee are required.

This is a unique opportunity to shape Canada’s cultural record through the power of portraiture.

Visit www.kingstonprize.ca to learn more and submit your work.

Instagram: @kingstonprize
Facebook: The Kingston Prize
For PR inquiries, contact: PR@artforecast.info