
6th ANNUAL WOMEN'S EMERGING ARTIST PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE 2023
Each year we hold an art prize open to all emerging women artists*
Painters & Photographers
that are living and working in the UK. With an awarded prize for one Overseas Artist. Then we choose 22 artists whom we feel have the potential to excel in the art world.
Championing Women Artists
At the Women in Art Prize formerly "The Hollybush Painting Prize", we champion women artists and try to play our part in correcting the imbalance in the art world. Did you know top London galleries exhibit more work by male artists than female and that their work sells for more than their female counterparts? Women are also under represented in the major roles in the art world and paid less.
We are here to help change that!
SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN

WOMEN IN ART PRIZE
“It’s not possible to present an accurate picture of our culture without all the voices of the people in the culture. So at the emerging level, you can’t have a good survey art show without women and artists of colour.”
Frida Kahlo
This Year's Prizes
Women in Art Painting First Prize: Dame Emma Thompson Award: £1000.
A Solo Exhibition at The Cass Art Space, Islington in 2023 with £250 worth of Art vouchers to spend in the store,
Winning Work displayed at Zebra One Gallery, Hampstead for one month, Feature in Fabric Magazine: 50,000 monthly copies,
Interview and studio visit/outreach campaign via Love London / Facebook 340,000, Instagram 100,000 plus,
Painting Runner-up Prize - £500
The Susan Angoy Artist of African and Caribbean Heritage Award
This prize is open to Women Artists who have one of the following categories of Heritage: - £1500*
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Black African
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Black Caribbean
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Black Other
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Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
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Mixed – White and Black African
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Other mixed backgrounds (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
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The artist must be truly emerging and be happy to provide a supporting statement, outlining how being the recipient of this award would make a difference, How it would further enhance their artistic development will be taken into consideration.
The Tim May Memorial Prize: £1500
This prize is open to all women emerging Painters and Photgraphers and will be donated by His widow Susan Angoy.
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The artist must be truly emerging and be happy to provide a supporting statement, outlining how being the recipient of this award would make a difference, How it would further enhance their artistic development will be taken into consideration.
Photography First Prize: £500,
Genesis Imaging £250 worth of Printing or Retouching for your next project.
Winning Work displayed at Zebra One Gallery, Hampstead for one month
Photography Runner-Up Prize: - £250.
The Mall Galleries Prize for Best Figurative Painting.
10 free entries to Open Exhibitions hosted by the Federation of British Artists Societies. (Worth £180)
Hoskin house, Residency for those aged 40+
Candidates should be over the minimum age of forty and be able to manage the short staircase.
This is for the dates of Mid-April and the end of August 2024
BEST OVERSEAS ARTIST - OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS OUTSIDE THE UK - £250 -
Please note that overseas artists are only eligible for the overseas prize, they do not qualify for any of the other prizes. Please tick the relevant boxes on the submission form. The winner will have their work made into a print and framed for the exhibition in 2023 at the expense of the women in Art Prize.
The Women in Art People's Vote Prize - £250
The Women in Art Award for Young Women Artists (26 years and Under) - £250
HSoA Abstract Painting Prize - which is an exhibition at Hampstead School of Art. Applicants must be emerging artists who have a complete body of work
HSoA Young Artist Prize – a Hampstead School of Art course (costs up to £400). Applicants must be aged 18 to 25 years old.
SUPPORTING WOMEN ARTISTS
Women in art have long been overlooked and under-appreciated, making it all the more important to recognize and celebrate their unique contributions to the world of art. From established female artists who have shaped the landscape of art history to emerging women artists with innovative ideas and perspectives, the importance of celebrating and preserving their work cannot be overstated. Not only does it benefit the artists themselves, it also allows museums and curators to stay relevant and up-to-date in an ever-evolving art world.

CONNECTING
The Women In Art Prize formerly The Holly Bush Prize has proven a great place to connect, we aim to carry that on with The Women In Art Prize not just connecting Artists with each other but also with art professionals. You come along as competitors and leave as friends.

SUPPORTING
At the Women In Art Prize, we know how important it is to support women in their careers. We are dedicated to helping you in every way we can and empower you to achieve success.

CHAMPIONING
We are dedicated to celebrating and promoting Art created by women in all its mediums Through our prize, we are offering women Painters and Photographers the opportunity to exhibit and sell their works. We also vigorously promote the work of our entrants, finalist and winners through social media.
WOMEN IN ART
We want to create a diverse and inclusive community for all women artists.
We are committed to allyship and will continue to champion a plurality of voices.
But, we acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done. We understand that our work to correct the gender imbalances of the art world must be intersectional and acknowledge the systemic barriers that may be layered onto gendered experience.
We encourage artists from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to enter our competitions.

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.”