Fundación BRAVA launches call for emerging artists aged 19-30
The Fundación BRAVA is launching an international call for emerging artists aged 19-30 to apply for the first edition of the BRAVA Awards, with applications open until 27 October.
The Fundación BRAVA is opening the call for entries for the first edition of the BRAVA Awards, an international initiative created to identify, support and generate concrete opportunities for young artists at the early stages of their professional careers. The first edition is dedicated to painting, and applications are open until 27 October for emerging artists aged between 19 and 30 from around the world.
The BRAVA Awards are based on a simple reality: talent does not always have the opportunity to develop or access the professional art circuit. The initiative therefore seeks to turn a one-off opportunity into meaningful support for selected artists, combining recognition with training, experience, professional contacts, visibility and new exhibition opportunities.
Unlike a competition based solely on financial support, the BRAVA Awards combine financial incentives, training, professional mentoring, specialist assessment, international exposure and connections with professionals across the art sector.
The four awards offer different forms of support. The 1st-place prize includes 5,000 dollars and an eight-week international artist residency. The Uruguayan National Prize, exclusively for native Uruguayan artists, also includes 5,000 dollars and an eight-week international artist residency. The 2nd-place prize is 3,000 dollars and 3rd-place prize is 2,000 dollars.
Selected artists will also have opportunities to exhibit and circulate their work internationally through an exhibition programme throughout 2027. Planned venues include Galería Ruth Benzacar in Buenos Aires, Casa Vicens in Barcelona and Hotel and Spa Premium Locanda Cipriani in Punta del Este, with additional locations to be added.
The winning works will be exhibited in Punta del Este in January 2027 and may subsequently form part of international travelling exhibitions.
Participants must submit an original, previously unpublished work created between 2025 and 2026, following the techniques and dimensions established in the call. Registration is free and fully digital. Applicants must provide information about their work, a brief biography and three photographs. Only finalists will be required to send their work physically to Uruguay.
Finalists will be announced on 21 November 2026, with the finalists' exhibition and winners' announcement taking place in Punta del Este in January 2027. The evaluation process will be anonymous and confidential, without access to the artist's identity, nationality or career background.
Beyond the awards, selected artists will join the BRAVA ecosystem and community, creating connections with other creators, gallery owners, curators, institutions and collectors. The international jury includes Patricia Bentancur (Uruguay), Mora Bacal (Argentina) and Chus Martínez (Switzerland), professionals with recognised careers in contemporary art.