The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and The Sobey Art Foundation (SAF) are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Sobey Art Award, with submissions open until Friday, February 14, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST. Artists can submit their nominations through an accessible online form.

This year marks the second round of the expanded nomination process, which now recognizes 30 Canadian artists, including those from the recently introduced Circumpolar region. The other five regions—Pacific, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic—continue to play a key role. The 2024 Sobey Art Award was awarded to Nico Williams, a remarkable artist from the Quebec region.

Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director of Curatorial Initiatives at NGC and Chair of the 2025 Sobey Art Award Jury, expressed enthusiasm about the award’s role in showcasing Canada’s vast artistic talent. He commented, “The Sobey Art Award’s call for nominations is an exciting opportunity to recognize and assert the breadth of Canada’s artistic talent. The reputation of the Award, here and internationally, is unsurpassed as are the commitments of the Sobey Art Foundation to directly support artists.”

Rob Sobey, Chair of the Board of Trustees for SAF, also shared excitement for the award’s future. “We felt much enthusiasm from all over Canada and the arts community again last year and we are eager to present the award for a 22nd year in 2025. The Sobey Art Award has been instrumental in launching the careers of artists who have gone on to receive global recognition.”

The Sobey Art Award is the largest and most generous contemporary art prize in Canada, with a total of $465,000 in prize money. The overall winner will receive $100,000, each of the six shortlisted artists will receive $25,000, and the remaining longlisted artists will each receive $10,000. The 2025 longlist, featuring 30 artists—five from each region—will be announced in March, followed by the six shortlisted artists in May. These six artists will be showcased in an exhibition at the NGC in the fall, and the final winner will be revealed at a celebration in November.

The award is open to individual artists and collectives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have been recognized by peers, critics, or curators. Nominations will be accepted from established artists, arts professionals, and gallery staff. However, self-nominations will not be accepted.

In addition to the announcement of the 2025 award, the works of the six 2024 shortlisted artists are currently on display at the NGC until April 6, 2025. These exhibitions provide an excellent opportunity to experience the diverse and dynamic works of contemporary Canadian artists.

Since its creation in 2002, with funding from SAF, the Sobey Art Award has been pivotal in supporting Canadian contemporary visual artists, helping to elevate their careers both domestically and internationally. The award is jointly administered by the NGC and SAF, reinforcing their shared commitment to fostering the arts in Canada.

The National Gallery of Canada, founded in 1880, continues to be one of the world’s leading art institutions, with a collection of over 90,000 works, including a notable focus on Indigenous and Canadian art. Its mission is to preserve and present art for the enjoyment and education of all Canadians.

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