Submissions Now Open for The Artist of the Year Award 2025

As the year slowly comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible creativity we’ve witnessed the stories poured into canvases, the courage shaping new ideas, the countless ways artists continue to bring beauty and meaning into the world.

At Arts to Hearts Project, we’ve always believed that art is more than what’s seen on the surface. It’s the quiet persistence behind creation, the vulnerability of sharing a piece of yourself with the world, and the invisible connection that art builds between one soul and another.

For years, we’ve tried to make space for that connection through our magazine, our exhibitions, and our open calls. We’ve shared hundreds of stories from women, binary, and non-binary artists across the world. Each story has reminded us of the same truth: art is not just about what we make, it’s about what we carry and what we choose to give.

And today, as we continue growing, dreaming, and expanding our creative family, we are ready to introduce something truly special something that we hope will stand as a legacy for years to come.

Today, we are beyond thrilled to announce something new, something timeless, The Artist of the Year Award 2025, a new and prestigious annual global call from the Arts to Hearts Project created to celebrate excellence, amplify voices, and honour the artists who shape the creative spirit of our time.

What Is Artist of the Year Award?

This isn’t just another award. This is a celebration a heartfelt acknowledgment of what it means to be an artist today. Every year, 100 artists from across the globe will be handpicked and featured in The Artist of the Year book a premium hardcover collectible, designed as a timeless coffee-table edition that showcases the diversity, passion, and brilliance of contemporary art.

Each edition, one extraordinary artist will be honoured with the distinguished title of “The Artist of the Year.” This artist will not only be recognized for their mastery of craft but for their ability to express the pulse of contemporary creativity to transform emotion into experience, and experience into something that moves us all.

Why This Initiative Matters

In a world where everything moves fast where trends fade overnight and algorithms decide visibility we wanted to create something that lasts. Something real. The Artist of the Year is more than a title; it’s an evolving archive of creative excellence. A place where artists can be remembered, celebrated, and seen not for fleeting moments, but for the enduring power of their voice.

It’s our way of saying: Your art matters. Your story matters. You matter

Theme: Open

For the first edition and for a reason close to our hearts, the theme is Open. Because how can we define creativity with boundaries? How can we put art into a box when it’s meant to breathe, move, and live freely?

This open call welcomes everything you have to share your emotions, your stories, your dreams, your imagination. Whether your art is loud or quiet, abstract or figurative, digital or handmade this is your invitation to show the work that feels most true to you.

Show us the art that makes your heart race. The one that came to you at 2 a.m. The one that healed something within you, or the one you’re still learning from.

Because this is what we want to celebrate the real moments that make your art yours.

What Artists Will Receive

One Artist of the Year 2025 will receive:

• US $1000 cash prize as an investment in their artistic practice
• A bespoke glass trophy, presented in a luxurious velvet box
• A 4-page premium feature in The Artist of the Year 2025 Book
• A Certificate of Excellence recognizing their contribution to contemporary art
• A dedicated interview and spotlight across the Arts to Hearts Project platforms
• Inclusion in the Arts to Hearts Global Artist Directory, connecting them to curators, collectors, and peers worldwide

99 selected artists will each receive:

• A 2-page spread in The Artist of the Year 2025 Book, showcasing their work and artistic journey
• A Certificate of Selection, celebrating their inclusion in this landmark edition
• Recognition across Arts to Hearts channels, newsletters, and social platforms, shared with a global audience

But most importantly, every artist becomes part of a living archive of creativity and heart. A growing testament to what it means to be an artist in our time.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to all artists worldwide, regardless of gender, background, or medium. We welcome painters, sculptors, photographers, textile artists, digital creators, installation artists, and beyond. Whether you’ve just begun or have spent years refining your practice this space is for you.

Because at Arts to Hearts, we believe there’s no one way to be an artist, only your way.

Eligibility & Details:

• Deadline: December 1st, 2025
• Open to artists aged 18 and above
• Artists of all levels emerging, mid-career, and established are encouraged to apply

How to Submit?

The process is simple and designed to be easy:

Step 1: Fill in your details and select the number of artworks you want to submit. Then proceed with the payment.
Step 2: After payment, you’ll be redirected to upload your artworks, along with your artist bio, statement, and other details.

Just make sure you complete both steps and your submission will be confirmed.

Why You Should Apply

Because art isn’t just what you create, it’s what you become through the act of creation. When you apply for The Artist of the Year 2025, you’re not just submitting your work; you’re stepping into a conversation that spans across cultures, mediums, and hearts.

You’re saying: This is who I am. This is what I have to say.

And somewhere, someone will see your work and feel understood, inspired, or changed even if for a moment. That’s the magic of art. That’s the reason we do this.

Let This Be the Year You Trust Your Art Enough to Share It!

Each year, The Artist of the Year will continue to grow, evolving into an archive of artists who define and redefine creativity for generations to come. Our hope is that one day, someone will open this book years from now and see your work. They’ll feel the spark you left behind.
And they’ll know that your art was part of something bigger a collective heartbeat of artists from all around the world.

So, wherever you are reading this from in your studio, surrounded by brushes and chaos; or sitting quietly, imagining your next piece, we invite you to take this leap.

Let this be your moment to share your voice with the world. To be part of something lasting. To let your art live beyond you. Because art, at its core, is life. And the world deserves to see yours.