Last Call: The Bennett Prize Closes September 19

The countdown is on. The Call for Entries for The Bennett Prize 5 closes on September 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST — which means if you've been telling yourself "I'll finish my application next week," this is the week that has to happen.

So here's your nudge: pull up your work, finish that statement, and submit your entry before the window closes.

What Happens After You Hit Submit

Once entries close, here's exactly what to expect:

• September 19, 2026 — Call for Entries closes at 11:59 p.m. MST. No extensions, so don't wait until the last hour if you can help it.
• Late September–October 2026 — Our five-member jury reviews every entry. This year's jury includes painter Julie Heffernan, museum professional Miranda Lash, art scholar and critic Dr. Tiffany E. Barber, and co-founders Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt — the first time both founders have served as jurors together.
• November 1, 2026 — The 10 finalists are notified privately.
• November 30, 2026 — We publicly announce the Top 10 finalists to the world.
• May 20, 2027 — The jury's final decision is revealed live, when The Prize winner is announced at the exhibition's opening reception at the Muskegon Museum of Art.
• August 22, 2027 — The exhibition closes at MMA before beginning its national tour.

What the Winner Receives

Making the Top 10 is a career-changer on its own. Winning is life-changing:

• $75,000 grand prize — the largest award given solely to a woman figurative realist painter, paid out as $37,500 a year for two years, giving her the time and breathing room to create an entirely new body of work for her solo show.
• A national solo touring exhibition, opening at the Muskegon Museum of Art and traveling to venues across the country.
• An additional $10,000 award presented to one other finalist from the Top 10.
• A launchpad for real career momentum. Past winners, finalists, and honorable mentions from the first four Bennett Prize cycles have collectively landed 312 group shows, 138 solo shows, 72 additional awards, features in 145 art publications, and over 10 million social media impressions — with 70% going on to gain gallery representation.

This isn't just a check. It's a museum-backed platform built to put your work — and your name — in front of the people who can change your career.

Don't Wait on This One

If you're a woman figurative realist painter and you've been sitting on the fence, September 19 is your line in the sand. Apply now, or if you know someone who should, forward this to her today.

We can't wait to see what you've been working on.