Manage Art Competitions & Open Calls
Create art open calls candidates and judges love
Discover extraordinary talent while focusing the art, not the admin. Transform how you run art competitions, open calls, and exhibitions with a platform that saves curators up to 80% of administrative time.
No annual lock ins, Unlimited testing
Trusted by
Built for the visual arts ecosystem
Tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of the arts community.
Program Directors
Stop wrestling with spreadsheets, disorganized email submissions, and clunky systems. Reclaim your time to focus on artistic discovery and meaningful curation.
We have saved days’ worth of time which has allowed us to expand the size and scope of our prizes.
Georgina Angus
Sovereign Art Foundation (Prize Manager)
Artists
Artists deserve a platform that respects their work. With Zealous, they can showcase their vision through high-resolution images, videos, and 3D models – all without technical headaches.
I’ve done many online applications and yours has been the best experience.
Nicola Schauerman
Artist
Jurors & Curators
Your panel needs to evaluate work fairly and efficiently without sacrificing thoughtful consideration. Our interface presents each submission beautifully, making judging intuitive and enjoyable.
The way the material was presented for me to look at was exemplary.
James Lingwood
Emerge Judge / Artangel
Showcase visual work beautifully
Purpose-built for artwork that demands to be seen, not just described.
- Accept almost any media type, images, videos, 3D models…
- Unlimited file capacity to properly showcase artistic works
- Embedded media viewable directly in submissions
- Unlimited video hosting for time-based and performative art
- Visual evaluation that puts the artwork in focus
- Judge anywhere, even on mobile devices
Our previous system made us download all the files separately. Having the files directly embedded in candidates’ submissions online was a HUGE improvement, both for us and for the artists.
Laura Evans
UK New Artists
Champion artistic diversity
Support all forms of creative expression with tools designed to promote equity, representation, and accessibility.
- Customizable application questions that capture essential context about artistic statements, technical requirements, and provenance
- Anonymous judging options that reduce bias and ensure evaluation based solely on artistic merit
- Accessibility features ensuring artists with disabilities can participate fully in your programs
- Category-based submissions allowing for different artistic disciplines
- Multiple criteria scoring for nuanced artistic evaluation
- Global submissions management for international art prizes
It’s been a pleasure to work with Zealous. The system is easy and intuitive for participants, judges & administrators. The dashboard is clear and allowed me to quickly manage the entire process.
Paola Lucente
Procreate Project (Director)
Curation should be a joy, not a burden
Replace cumbersome spreadsheets and email chains with a platform that respects the curatorial process.
- Visual tools that present entries visually to your judges and administrators
- Category organization that mirrors how curators naturally think about exhibition planning
- Real-time comments and discussion for judging panels to share insights and perspectives
- Comprehensive artwork documentation with downloadable PDFs containing all relevant details
- Direct artist communication for follow-up questions and exhibition coordination
- Powerful search and filters designed specifically for arts-based categorization and discovery
The scoring system accelerates the decision-making process during Committee meetings. It allowed Board members easy access to submissions.
Fatuma Osman
Cultural Affairs (Embassy of Switzerland)
Why choose Zealous over traditional methods?
Traditional Approach
- Hours spent downloading email attachments
- Endless spreadsheets to track submissions
- Difficulty comparing entries side-by-side
- Manual email communications with applicants
- Limited file sizes and formats
- Tedious manual scoring calculations
With Zealous
- All media embedded and viewable instantly
- Comprehensive dashboard with real-time analytics
- Visual comparison tools designed for curation
- Automated updates and personalized messages
- Support for high-resolution images, video, and 3D models
- Automatic score tabulation and ranking
Build vibrant artistic communities
Extend your impact beyond a single exhibition or award to foster ongoing creative relationships.
- Public voting capabilities that engage your wider community and build excitement
- Beautiful results galleries to showcase shortlisted and winning works to a global audience
- Newsletter subscriber capture public voters to grow your engaged audience with each program
- Complete archive of past programs accessible to administrators and the public (if you want them to)
- Detailed analytics to learn from past calls and improve future opportunities
- Artist history tracking that helps you build long-term relationships with talented creators
CASE STUDY
Organizing a prize allowed Procreate Project to create dialogue focusing on the gender divide in the arts
Arts friendly pricing
We understand arts organizations’ budget constraints and have designed our pricing accordingly.
- No annual contracts – choose monthly payments that align with your program schedule
- No limits on the number of programs, judges, or uploaded files
- No hidden charges for setup or onboarding—what you see is what you pay
- No technical expertise required—be up and running in under an hour
- Free starter option to test with up to 6 submissions
- Typical ROI of 3-5x through reduced administrative costs and increased submission volume
Costs & Income Calculator
Who should we send the quote to?
Reset Calculator
Worth every single penny.
Fikri Hakimi
UM STEM Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can I launch my art call?
With our intuitive setup process, most arts organizations create and launch their first call in under an hour. Our team is also available to help with any questions along the way.
Can artists include different types of media in a single submission?
Absolutely! Artists can combine images, videos, audio files, and text in a single submission to present their work comprehensively.
How do you ensure a fair judging process?
Our platform includes anonymous judging options, customizable scoring criteria, and balanced judge assignment to ensure equitable evaluation based purely on artistic merit.
Can we customize the application to match our branding?
Yes! Your submission page can incorporate your organization’s logo, colors, and visual identity to create a seamless experience for applicants.
Ready to transform your art program?
Take the first step toward a more streamlined, impactful arts program today. Set up your first call in minutes and start accepting submissions immediately—no credit card required to get started.
