Bethesda Painting Awards 2025
Annual painting competition offering $14,000 in prizes to four winners. Open to D.C./Maryland/Virginia artists.
The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announces its 22nd annual Bethesda Painting Awards, inviting artists from the D.C./Maryland/Virginia region to submit their work for consideration. This prestigious competition awards a total of $14,000 in prizes to four selected winners.
Prize Details:
- First Place: $10,000
- Second Place: $2,000
- Third Place: $1,000
- Young Artist Award (born after February 28, 1996): $1,000
Up to eight finalists will be chosen to display their work at Bethesda's Gallery B in June, providing significant exhibition opportunities for selected artists.
The competition will be curated by a distinguished panel of esteemed jurors, including Mira Hecht (contemporary artist based in Washington, D.C.), Ernest Shaw (adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University), and Hilary Wilder (associate professor in painting at Virginia Commonwealth University).
Submission Requirements:
Artists must be 16 years of age or older and residents of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. Each artist must submit five images, an application form, and pay a non-refundable entry fee of $45. The submission deadline is February 26, 2026.
This is an excellent opportunity for regional artists to gain recognition, exhibition space, and substantial prize funding while being evaluated by respected professionals in the contemporary art field.