ART Start Prize 2026

ART START AWARD SUPPORTS YOUNG ARTISTS WITH €5,000 FOR A SOLO PROJECT

After nine years in which the initiative “ART START: Young Artists to Watch” established itself as a platform for discovering new names in contemporary art, it is taking the next step and transforming into an AWARD.

The award is a joint initiative of the Credo Bonum Foundation and Gallery and BACB Bank.

ART START is a project created by Credo Bonum Gallery and the Goethe-Institut Bulgaria in 2016, with the aim of presenting new names in Bulgarian art. Over its nine editions, more than 100 young artists have been featured, and the project has become an important platform for introducing audiences to new artistic practices. Created by curators Vesela Nozharova and Stefka Tsaneva, ART START has developed with the participation of numerous established professionals and has outlined a broad spectrum of positions in Bulgarian contemporary art.

Today, the initiative places a new emphasis — moving beyond presentation toward real support. The ART START Award was created in response to the need for young artists to receive not only visibility, but also sustainable conditions for development.

The selected artist will receive funding of €5,000 for the realization of a solo exhibition project. The support includes an artist fee, a production budget for the creation of new works, as well as full curatorial and organizational support from Credo Bonum Gallery. The exhibition will be realized during the 2026/2027 season.

At the heart of the award is a clear position: contemporary art needs not only attention, but real conditions for development.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Artists may apply for the ART START Award if they:

• are up to 35 years old, born no earlier than 1991;
• work in any medium of contemporary art;
• are Bulgarian citizens or of Bulgarian origin;
• have lived and worked in Bulgaria for at least 5 years.

Artists who have participated in previous editions of “ART START: Young Artists to Watch” are also eligible to apply.

APPLICATION

Applications are submitted by sending an electronic portfolio including:

• a short biography / CV;
• an artist statement, up to 500 words;
• a selection of artworks or projects;
• links to video works or projects realized online, if available.

Documents are accepted online only, with a maximum file size of 20 MB, at: office@credobonum.bg

JURY

Applications will be evaluated by a jury composed of curators, artists and gallerists with established professional experience. The members of the jury will be selected by the organizers and announced publicly.

DEADLINE

📅 7 June 2026