Nominator Details
Please include job title, short bio, your portrait, and website (if applicable). Your profile will be featured on our website.
As a nominator, you can nominate up to five artists to enter The Prize. Each artist will then be invited to submit up to three artworks of their choice.
To get started, please read the important information in this section and our FAQs. Next, scroll down and use the forms to fill out your personal information and nominee details. If you have any questions, please send us an email.
There are numerous benefits to participating artists, including:
It is free for artists to enter the Prize online. Once shortlisted, artists are responsible for any production costs associated with their shortlisted artwork. Artists are also responsible for their own shipping costs.
We recommend that shortlisted artists have gallery representation in order to mitigate any personal costs for participating artists. Should the prospect of shipping costs be too much of a financial burden for an artist, we recommend they do not participate.
*Please note, if the artwork remains unsold, the artist is also responsible for return shipping.
In order to be eligible for the Prize, we require that artworks adhere to the following:
Once nominated, we will contact artists to guide them through the online submission process and send frequent entry reminders. However, we recommend that you also follow up with your nominees to ensure they complete their entry during the submission period.
We will keep you updated on the entry status of each of your nominees.
The first round of judging takes place online. Judges review the digital submissions and score each artwork on a scale of 0 – 7. The scores are then aggregated and the 30 highest scoring artworks are shortlisted for the Prize.
Judging is undertaken independently. The judges do not confer with one another during the judging process.
Net proceeds from artwork sales are spilt equally between the artist and Associação SAF. We use our portion to help fund our expressive arts programmes for children from low-income backgrounds and with special educational needs. Learn more about our mission here.
Yes, you can. However, all entrants should be Portuguese or of the Portuguese “diaspora” which we define as being resident or working in Portugal, OR of Portuguese nationality but working or resident abroad.
You may nominate up to five artists in total.
It is strongly preferred that Entrants have a track record of at least three solo exhibitions with recognised galleries and submit Artwork with a normal gallery selling price of €5,000 or above. The stated price should be reflective of and consistent with their current gallery selling price for Artworks of similar size and medium.
We are always eager to grow our network of nominators. Should you have a friend or colleague eager to participate, please send us an email with their details.
1.1.“Artwork” means a piece of art created by an artist, submitted to the Competition through the online entry portal as instructed by SAF.
1.2. “Entrant” means an artist who submits an Entry to the Competition
1.3. “Entry” means a fully completed entry form and images of the Artwork, submitted through the online entry portal as instructed by SAF.
1.4. “Finalist” means an Entrant whose Artwork has been shortlisted by the Judging Panel to progress to the second round of judging for the Competition and for display in the Finalists’ Exhibition
1.5. ““Finalists Exhibition” means the public art exhibition(s) comprising the 30 Finalists’ Artworks as shortlisted by the Judging Panel.
2.1. The Grand Prize Winner is the winning Entrant as selected by the Judging Panel and will be awarded a cash prize of €25,000.
2.2. The Public Vote Prize Winner is the Entrant (other than the winning Entrant) determined as having received the most votes from the public for their Artwork and will be awarded a cash prize of €2,000
3.1. The Judging Panel will select 30 Entrants as Finalists for this Competition, their Artworks will be exhibited at the Finalists Exhibition(s) in Portugal.
3.2. SAF and the Judging Panel reserve the right to make a final decision to accept any Entry for this Competition
3.3. The decision of SAF and the Judging Panel on any and all matters relating to the Competition will be final and binding. Neither SAF nor members of the Judging Panel shall be obliged or bound to enter into any communications whatsoever regarding such decisions.
3.4. All Entrants must be nominated by one of the appointed nominators as listed on the SAF website. Grand Prize Winners of previous editions of The Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize are not eligible for nomination.
3.5. All entrants should be Portuguese or of the Portuguese “diaspora” which we define as being resident or working in Portugal, OR of Portuguese nationality but working or resident abroad.
3.6. It is strongly preferred that Entrants have a track record of at least three solo exhibitions with recognised galleries and submit Artwork with a normal gallery selling price of €5,000 or above. The stated price should be reflective of and consistent with their current gallery selling price for Artworks of similar size and medium.
3.7. There are no limits to nationality or age of Entrants.
4.1. All Artworks must be the original work of the Entrant and must have been produced within the current or previous calendar year (2024/2025).
4.2. For the avoidance of doubt, the Entrants hereby warrant that they own the copyright to their Artwork(s) and further warrant that their Artwork contains no feature or aspect or material that constitutes a breach (or potential/anticipatory breach) of a third party’s intellectual property.
4.3. Limited edition Artwork (e.g., photographs, digital works, prints or sculptures) must not have been produced in more than five numbered copies with an additional three artist’s proofs. In such cases, each Artwork must be signed and numbered, and the Entry must include a declaration stating the edition number of the Artwork and total editions made.
4.4. Medium Performance art and art consisting solely of audio, video or time-based media
will not be accepted.
4.5. Dimensions All two-dimensional Artworks (including frame or mounting) should not exceed 150 x 150cm and should not be more than 5cm in depth. Composite Artworks must fit within these dimensions when placed together.
4.6. Dimensions All three-dimensional Artworks should not exceed 150 (H) x 50 x 50cm.
4.7. All Artworks must be available for sale in accordance with Condition 8 below and must remain so until the Entrant is informed that the Competition is at an end.
4.8. Entrants who are finalists of previous editions of the Competition should not submit Artwork that has previously been shortlisted or awarded a Prize (in the previous editions of the Competition). These Entrants are strongly advised to submit Artwork(s) from a different series from those that have been entered previously.
5.1. Each Entrant may submit up to three Artworks (as separate entries) but only one of these Artworks may be selected as a Finalist.
5.2. Entrants are required to enter the Competition through the submission platform link as will be sent by SAF. Entrants must complete all fields of the online entry form and upload digital image(s) of their Artwork.
5.3. Artwork images must be high-resolution (min. 300Dpi) and in one of the following formats: JPG, PNG or GIF. For two-dimensional Artworks, 1 or 2 images should be included, with at least one image showing a clear view of the whole Artwork. It is recommended to include a second image showing a detail of the work. For three-dimensional Artworks, no less than 3 and no more than 5 images should be included, showing different views of the work.
5.4. All images should be a true representation of the final and complete Artwork(s) detailed in the Entry. Images may not be manipulated or otherwise artificially or digitally enhanced by the Entrant.
5.5. All Entries must be received by SAF by 12:00 midnight (WEST) on 19 June 2025.
5.6. By completing the entry form, the Entrant agrees to SAF collecting, retaining, processing, or otherwise utilising the Entrant’s personal information for the purposes of processing the Entry to the Competition, the promotion and administration of the Competition including distribution of the details for any and all promotional or marketing purposes and the creation of the Finalists Exhibition. The personal information of Entrants will not be shared with third parties or otherwise processed for alternative purposes without the Entrant’s consent.
6.1. Finalists will be officially notified by email and the selected Artworks must be delivered to a location advised by SAF. Each Artwork must be marked clearly on the reverse with the title of the piece, the relevant Entrant’s name and their contact details.
6.2. It is the Entrant’s responsibility to cover all costs of transportation of their artwork to the location advised by SAF, including but not limited to packing, crating and custom charges, as well as insurance to cover any damage that might be occasioned to the artwork during transit. Should the work be unsold after the Competition is at an end, the Entrant will cover all transportation and insurance costs arising from transit of the artwork back to themselves or to another destination as the Entrant may direct.
6.3. In line with condition 8.1 all efforts will be undertaken to sell the artwork. Should the work remain unsold after the Competition is at an end, the Finalist will cover all transportation and insurance costs arising from transit of the artwork back to themselves or to another
destination as the Finalist may direct.
6.4. t is intended that each Finalist’s Artwork will, at the discretion of SAF, be exhibited and publicised in the Finalists Exhibition, associated printed materials and digital channels. SAF will arrange media coverage and publicity for the Finalists Exhibition(s).
6.5. Unless otherwise agreed with SAF in writing, each Finalist consents to the following points:
a) SAF have the right to reproduce images of the Finalist’s Artwork for publicity, marketing and educational purposes for SAF and the Competition.
b) The Sovereign Group of companies has the right to reproduce images of the Finalist’s Artwork (with full credit to the Finalist) for Sovereign marketing materials.
c) The Grand Prize Winner agrees that SAF may produce limited editions of the winning Artworks to further its charitable aims.
6.6. The Finalists selected as The Grand Prize Winner (under Condition 2.1) and Public Vote Prize Winner (under Condition 2.2) will be announced during the Finalists Exhibition or at another of SAF’s fundraising events.
6.7. Finalists shall not make or permit any person to make any public announcement, communication or circular concerning the results of the Competition or any other matter described by any of the SAF representatives on email or otherwise save where such information is already in the public domain or with the express written consent of SAF. Breach of this section shall be treated as a breach of confidentiality and shall be considered a material breach of these terms and conditions.
6.8. SAF reserves the right to disqualify an Entrant, where in the view of SAF: the Artwork does not meet the requirements as stated herein, the Entrant cannot be contacted, or the Entrant does not respond within seven days of being contacted by SAF.
6.9. SAF and the Judging Panel reserve the right to offer the place of a disqualified Entrant to another Entrant but are not obliged to do so.
7.1 Artist’s must arrange for their work to be adequately framed in order to protect and present the work. If the Finalist does not intend to exhibit the Artwork framed, then adequate protection must be provided for its storage and transportation.
7.2 Artworks should be delivered to SAF with appropriate hanging fixtures already in place and Entrants must provide clear installation instructions in accordance with the installation instructions form that will be provided to them by SAF.
8.1. Finalists authorise SAF to arrange the sale of their Artwork by whatever means it sees fit.
8.2. If a Finalist’s Artwork is sold, that Finalist will be entitled to receive 50% of the net sale proceeds, with the other 50% being retained for charitable purposes to further the aims of SAF.
8.3. Finalists authorise SAF to accept the highest sale offer it receives for the Artwork, irrespective of the amount. SAF will use best efforts to receive the best possible price for the Artwork of the Finalists but cannot and does not guarantee such sale or the price received.
9.1. SAF shall appoint the members of its Judging Panel without reference to any third party and publish the appointments on the SAF website