— INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL · VISUAL ARTISTS WORLDWIDE
Your art belongs in Times Square.
Artistcloseup's international open call for visual artists.
Three winners will each receive their own dedicated digital billboard feature in Times Square, New York — featuring their artwork, artist name, and Instagram handle on screen.
Entry fee: $49 USD per submission
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Winners announced: September 10, 2026
A juried competition. The $49 entry fee covers your submission — it does not guarantee selection.
Entries close August 31
Visual mockup — example of how a winner's feature may look. Billboard placement is real; winners receive photo and video proof from the actual Times Square location.
Your artwork. Your name. Your Instagram handle. On one of the most recognizable screens in the world.
01 — The Prize
Three winners. One screen each.
Selected by the Artistcloseup editorial team, each winner receives a full feature package built around a dedicated billboard presentation — your artwork is never shown as part of a shared collage.
The Full Winner Package
A dedicated Times Square digital billboard feature — your artwork only
Your artist name and Instagram handle on the billboard design
Professional photo documentation from Times Square
Professional video footage from Times Square
A published artist interview on Artistcloseup
A billboard announcement feature on the Artistcloseup website
A social media feature across Artistcloseup channels
02 — Display Details
Billboard Location in Times Square
1560 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Between 46th and 47th Street, above the Pelé store
03 — Who Can Apply?
Open to visual artists worldwide.
You don't need to live in the United States, and you don't need to travel to New York — winners receive professional photo and video documentation from the location, so you can experience and share the moment from anywhere.
There's no fixed theme. We're looking for strong, memorable, visually impactful work that carries your voice.
Painting
Collage
Illustration
Drawing
Other screen-ready forms
Digital Art
Photography
AI-Assisted (disclosed)
Mixed Media
Artists must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
04 — How to Apply?
Four steps to the big screen.
01
Complete the form
Tell us about you and your work.
03
Upload your artwork
One artwork per submission. Square format preferred, minimum 1080×1080 px, JPG or PNG.
02
Pay the $49 entry
Secures your place in the juried review.
04
Get confirmation
Then watch for the winner announcement on July 15, 2026.
$49
PER SUBMISSION
The entry fee covers administration, juried review, promotion, production, and the Times Square winner campaign.
Submitting an entry does not guarantee selection as a winner, interviewee, or billboard participant. Fees are non-refundable except where required by law or if the competition is cancelled without awarding prizes. Final billboard artwork is subject to Artistcloseup and billboard-operator approval.
5 — Questions
Good to know before you enter.
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Yes. To keep the submission process secure and organized, the $49 entry fee is paid first. After payment, you’ll be directed to upload your artwork and complete your submission. Your entry is only finalized once both payment and artwork upload are complete.
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After payment, you’ll be directed to upload your artwork. Once your artwork is submitted, you’ll receive confirmation that your entry is complete.
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The entry fee is $49 per submission.
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No. The entry fee covers submission review and administration. Three winners will be selected by the Artistcloseup editorial team.
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Three winners will be selected. Each winner will receive their own dedicated digital billboard feature in Times Square.
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Winners are selected by the Artistcloseup editorial team based on artistic quality, originality, visual impact, presentation, and overall suitability for a Times Square billboard display.
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Each winner will receive a dedicated digital billboard feature in Times Square, New York. The feature will run for 24 hours, with 15 seconds every hour and a minimum of 22 billboard plays. Winners will also receive photo and/or video documentation of their billboard feature.
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Winning artworks will be shown on a digital billboard in Times Square, New York.
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You may submit visual artwork including painting, photography, digital art, mixed media, illustration, or similar visual work. The artwork should be suitable for public billboard display.
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Please upload a JPG or PNG file. Square format is preferred, with a minimum size of 1080×1080 px. If selected, you may be asked to provide a higher-resolution production file.
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Yes. You may submit multiple artworks, but each artwork requires a separate entry and payment.
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Yes. The open call is international and artists from anywhere in the world may apply.
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The submission deadline is August 31, 2026.
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Winners will be announced on September 10, 2026.
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We’ll contact you by email. Selected artists may be asked to provide a high-resolution artwork file, final attribution details, and any additional information needed to prepare the billboard feature.
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Yes. Artists keep ownership of their artwork. By submitting, you grant Artistcloseup permission to review your work and, if selected, use it for the Times Square billboard feature and related promotional materials connected to the open call.
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No. Entry fees are non-refundable, including for submissions that are not selected.
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For questions about your submission, please contact Artistcloseup through the contact information provided on the website.
Ready?
Put your work in front of the world.
Three artists will each receive their own dedicated Times Square billboard feature.
Entry fee: $49 USD · Deadline: August 31, 2026
A juried competition. Entry does not guarantee selection.
Participation is subject to the Artistcloseup Official Rules and Privacy Policy. Please review all documentation before submitting.