2017 Open Call for Submissions – (ended JUN 10, 2017)

Global Fine Art Awards (GFAA) is the first annual award program ever created to recognize the best curated art and design exhibitions and installations around the world.  The research and judging criteria are innovation and excellence in exhibition design, historical context, educational value, and public appeal. This year is the fourth edition.

The 2017 edition of GFAA presents two new awards – Global Planet and Global Humanity. These awards further highlight the program’s mission to broaden the audience for art and elevate its importance in society.

The new awards are similar to the existing awards, with an important distinction.  In addition to reviewing curated exhibitions, the GFAA committee and judges will consider recognizing an individual working in any field of art best exemplifying the four existing criteria for GFAA- and based on how the nominated work or individual excels in conservation of art or the planet (Global Planet Award), or in communicating the importance of benevolence in humanity (Global Humanity Award).

Art organizations and individuals are invited to submit nominations for these and all categories of the GFAA program, now through June 10, 2017. To qualify for 2017 awards, the exhibition or installation must begin between August 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017

Art Research Process

Throughout the year, the GFAA Art Research Committee searches to identify the best exhibitions and installations across the globe.  The basis for the research and selection of nominees is ongoing and thorough review of over 50 sources of art editorial and critique. More than 2,000 exhibitions are vetted during the process.

Open Call Process

In addition to the research-based nominations, GFAA accepts open calls from museums, biennials, fairs, galleries and other art organizations. Individual patrons may nominate as well. THANK YOU! for all of the open call Nominations! (Deadline was June 10, 2017)

We will announce our official 2017 GFAA Nominees in Oct in Paris during @FIAC #gfaa2017

Selection and Voting

In August, the Nominating Committee convenes to review the list of all potential nominees, and deliberates to select a proposed slate.

In September, the Judges review the proposed slate, then make additions and deletions to create the official list of nominees.  The 2017 nominees will be announced in early October.  The Judges first vote for the top contenders in each award category to select the award Finalists.  A final round of judging and deliberation is done to select the winners- one in each award category.

GFAA will announce the Nominees via international press release, and on the GFAA website in October 2017. Finalists will be announced by early November.  The Winners are announced live in NYC at the award ceremony in February 2018.

The 2016 edition recognized 78 nominees from 22 countries, 52 cities and 5 continents. A total of 33 finalists, and 11 winners were selected by GFAA Judges.

Two additional awards, Youniversal and YOU-2, are determined by online and social media public voting. All Nominees are eligible to win these coveted awards.

 The Award Categories

1.  Contemporary or Post-War – solo artist
2. Contemporary or Post-War – theme or group
3. Impressionist or Modern – solo artist
4. Impressionist or Modern – theme or group
5. Renaissance, Baroque, Old Masters or Dynasties – solo artist
6. Renaissance, Baroque, Old Masters or Dynasties – theme or group
7. Ancient Art
8. Public Art
9. Design
10. Photography
11. Fringe
12. Global Planet (NEW)
13. Global Humanity (NEW)

GFAA Judges

 The 2017 GFAA Jury is comprised of these highly-esteemed art professionals:

• Savita Apte, Art historian and lecturer specializing in Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art
• James M. Bradburne, Director General of the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Biblioteca Braidense, Milan
• Gina Costa, Art historian and curator, previously at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago
• Joe Lin-Hill, Deputy Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
• Dean Phelus, American Alliance of Museum’sSenior Director of Leadership Programs

(Judge emeritus)

• Peter Trippi, Editor-in-chief Fine Art Connoisseur magazine

 GFAA Research Committee

• Chair Kimberly Lin– BA in Art History in modern and contemporary art from the UC Berkeley; Degree in fashion design from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; Post War Contemporary Art program, Sotheby’s London
• Renee Farina– Biennale di Firenze (Florence) International Selection Committee; Gallery owner; formerly of Christie’s Masters, Modern and Contemporary Departments, NYC, former GFAA Research Committee Chair

 GFAA Nominating Committee

• Chair Betsie Piussan– MBA from NYU; BA Stanford University, studied at l’Université de Paris and l’Ecole du Louvre, Design Certificate NY School of Interior Design
• Stefano Rabolli Pansera– GFAA Global Humanity Award Chair, Director Hauser & Wirth London
• Holly Baxter– GFAA Global Planet Award Chair, Art Advisor; Chief Curator, Human Rights Foundation
• Peter Trippi– Editor-in-Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur magazine; GFAA Judge Emeritus
• Salwa Mikdadi– Associate Professor of Art History, NYU Abu Dhabi
• Gina Quan– Asian Director for Gerber Stauffer Fine Arts, Zurich-based fine art advisory firm
• Patricia Lannes– Founder of Cultures and Literacies through Art for the 21st Century; Chair, Global Latino Network AAM
• Ulrika Citron– Global Humanity Award Committee; Co-chair of USC Shoah Foundation’s Next Generation Council
• (Emeritus) Terence Riley– Architect, former Director at MoMA New York and Miami Art Museum
• (Emeritus) Tiffany Chestler– Director of Cultural Programming at DACRA and Craig Robins art collection

Key dates and information

• Open call: Web-based submissions will be accepted now through Jun 10, 2017, 11:59 p.m. Eastern
• Upload information here to apply (https://globalfineartawards.submittable.com/submit)
• To qualify for 2017 awards, the exhibition or installation must begin between August 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017.
• (note: traveling exhibitions may enter the competition, with acknowledgement shared with partner institutions).
• Selected submissions will receive notification of their status by September 1, 2017.
• GFAA will issue an international press release announcing the Nominees in October 2017.
• GFAA will celebrate all Nominees and announce the Winners in February 2018 at a black-tie Ceremony and Gala.
• Application fee: $180

What Selected Nominees receive

All Nominees and Finalists will be featured in extensive marketing, social media, public relations and permanently on the GFAA website. Additionally, GFAA will create a uniquely curated video for each of the Finalists, which will be presented at the Award Ceremony, on the website and social media channels.  All Nominees and Finalists are invited as our guests to the Award Ceremony in February, 2018, when the Winners will be revealed live at the red carpet gala.