Nominations Open: 15th October 2026

Nominations Close: 15th December 2026

Announcement of Shortlist : 25th December 2026

Physical delivery of selected Artwork: January 15-20 

Final Jury Selection: Feb 1, 2027 

Awards Night: February 2027 (TBA)

The Wise Owl Visual Art Awards 2027

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Eligibility Criteria and Submission Guidelines

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Core Award Details

• Scope: Inaugural awards celebrating contemporary 2D fine art across India.

• Exhibition: Shortlisted works (40–50 pieces) will be displayed for one week at a gallery in Chandigarh alongside the Wise Owl Literary Awards.

• Submission Fee: Free.

• Prizes:

  • Winner: ₹25,000 cash prize, plaque, scroll, and featured placement in The Wise Owl magazine.

  • Runners-Up: Plaque, scroll, and award-edition feature in The Wise Owl.

• Sales & Commission: Artworks will be for sale; The Wise Owl retains a 25% commission on sold works to cover gallery handling and overhead.

   

Key Eligibility & Media Rules

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CategoryRequirement / Restriction:

Artist Eligibility 21 years or older, residing and practicing in India.

Creation Period: 

Created between January 1, 2026, and December 15, 2026.

Exhibition History

Must not have been exhibited previously anywhere in India.

Permitted Media

2D Fine Art only (Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Tempera, Mixed Media, Charcoal, Graphite, Pen & Ink, Pastel).

Prohibited Media

AI-generated art, digital fabrications, prints, or mechanical reproductions.

Entry Limits 

Max 2 entries submitted per artist; max 1 selected for physical display.

Dimensions

Max 36 inches along the longest dimension (including frame).

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Critical Timelines

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Digital Submission Deadline

December 15, 2026 (11:59 PM IST)

Shortlist Notification

December 25, 2026

Physical Artwork Delivery

January 15 – January 20, 2027

Final Jury Selection

February 1, 2027

Exhibition & Awards Night

February 15 – February 22, 2027

Artwork Collection Window

February 23 – February 25, 2027

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Digital Materials Needed (Stage 1):

Up to 2 high-res JPEGs/PNGs (max 1MB each), complete metadata (Title, Medium, Size, Year, Price), Bio (50–75 words), and Statement (50 words/work).

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Physical Delivery of Shortlisted Artworks (Stage 2)

Artworks will be delivered either in person or through courier only by the shortlisted artists. Details will be shared on emails with the shortlisted artists. 

Physical Artwork Delivery

January 15 – January 20, 2027

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Framing & Delivery Guidelines

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Framing Restrictions:

• Traditional glass is strictly prohibited. Works on paper requiring glazing must use unbreakable acrylic or plexiglass.​

• Metal frames, clip frames, and unprotected glass edges are inadmissible.

• Logistics & Collection: All transit/packing costs are paid by the artist. Uncollected works remaining 7 days past the collection window may be sold, destroyed, or disposed of without compensation.