NORDIC–BALTIC ART ACADEMY GRADUATE OF 2026 — APPLY NOW!
Position your work within a leading regional network and gain visibility among international professionals and a broader public.
The award supports artists at the start of their professional journeys, giving you visibility among international curators, collectors, and the wider art public — while placing your work within a curated selection of the most promising graduates in the region.
Unlike most open calls, this award is exclusively open to BA and MA graduates — and only at the time of graduation.
All works will be presented on a dedicated award page within NOBA’s curated contemporary art platform. The award also helps promote graduation shows and bring international attention to graduating artists at a pivotal moment in their careers.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Submit your graduation work (up to 3 artworks) and additional information through the online form “AWARD SUBMISSION” on https://noba.ac/en/award-submission/
Why participate?
- International Exposure
Your work will be evaluated by a distinguished international jury composed of curators and art professionals from across the Nordic–Baltic region and beyond, placing your practice within a broader international context.
- Position Yourself Within the Region
See your work alongside fellow graduates from leading Nordic and Baltic art academies, gaining a clearer understanding of your position within the regional art landscape and emerging in dialogue with your peers.
- Join a Recognized Regional Network
Since its establishment in 2016, the Award has connected graduates from leading art academies across the Nordic and Baltic region — offering a unique platform to showcase the region’s most promising emerging talents.
- Be Featured on NOBA.ac
Present your work on NOBA.ac, the largest curated contemporary art platform in the Nordic and Baltic region, and position your practice within a curated international framework.
- Public Engagement & Recognition
Participate in the Public Choice Award, where your work gains additional visibility through audience voting and dedicated campaigns.
- Strategic Online Promotion
Benefit from targeted visibility through NOBA’s search-optimized platform, digital outreach, and social media campaigns — helping your work reach collectors, curators, and art audiences across the region and internationally.
TIMELINE
As graduation schedules vary across participating academies, submissions are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the graduation period.
All submitted works are published on the NOBA Award platform on an ongoing basis, allowing early visibility and engagement.
The international jury — composed of curators and art professionals from across the Nordic–Baltic region and beyond — will convene in November 2026 to review the selected works.
Winners of the Nordic & Baltic Young Artist Award will be officially announced in December 2026.
AWARDS
The awards are designed to provide both recognition and meaningful support for emerging artists at a pivotal moment in their careers.
Selected nominees will have the opportunity to participate in curated group exhibitions across the region, gaining visibility within a professional international context.
The Grand Prix is awarded by an international jury of curators and art professionals, selecting one outstanding graduate from the participating academies. The winner receives a monetary prize of €2000.
In addition, the jury awards the Young Painter Prize with a monetary prize of €1000.
The Public Choice Award is open to all applicants and offers additional visibility through public voting and dedicated promotion on the NOBA platform. One selected artist will receive a €500 prize, awarded based on audience votes — a symbolic recognition of public engagement.
Additional special prizes and recognitions may be announced by partners and collaborators by the end of the competition.
Participating Academies
The competition gathers the best BA and MA graduation works from the following art academies:
- Estonian Academy of Arts
- Pallas University of Applied Sciences
- Art Academy of Latvia
- Vilnius Academy of Arts
- Uniarts Helsinki (Finland)
- Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
- Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design (Sweden)
- Umeå Academy of Fine Arts (Sweden)
Together, these institutions represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of the region’s emerging artistic practices.
We warmly invite you to become part of this vibrant and growing artistic community. We look forward to seeing your submission on NOBA.ac!
For any questions or assistance, feel free to contact us at info@noba.ac
NOBA Team,
Adele Torm
