Free resources to scale your awards & contests

Learn how to structure awards categories that attract entries, support fair judging, and grow with your programme. Research, naming, and pricing tips.

Streamline submission forms to save time and increase completions. What to ask, how to format, and which questions actually matter.

Plan an effective judging process for your awards programme. Calculate effort, structure rounds, set clear criteria, and reduce bias at every stage.

Discover how to structure compelling award prizes and competition perks on any budget. From cash prizes to exposure opportunities, learn what motivates submissions and fosters diversity. Practical examples included.

Define your awards programme purpose. Learn who should submit, how to measure success, craft compelling pitches & build diversity into your foundation.

Maximize revenue while keeping opportunities accessible to all candidates. Set fair award fees with early bird pricing and donation models.

Discover when spreadsheets work for awards programmes and when you need software. Honest advice on costs, scale, and the 20-entry tipping point.

Awards automation handles the repetitive tasks so you can focus on human connection. Learn where to automate, where to stay personal, and how to get started.

Discover how photo judging software prevents common contest disasters. Learn about blind judging, custom forms, file management, and automated scoring for fair results.

Build a judging panel that shows up. Practical guide: recruitment timing, diverse panels, real costs, handling dropouts. 6-9 month timeline included.

Many open calls offer no feedback. Is it just about resources, or something deeper about care, consent, and creative process?

Discover the hidden costs draining your awards budget, from manual processes to post-event expenses, and learn how to stop them at every stage.

Looking at different platforms can be confusing and time consuming. In this article, we compare 5 submissions management platforms and share some of the Pros and Cons, Key Strengths and who the platform might be useful for.

Predict submission volumes, track progress, and benchmark your award performance against industry data.

We run programs to make a difference, but can you point to specific people and say ‘this changed things for them’? Learn how to track impact with light-touch methods that participants barely notice.

Finding the right Awards Coordinator can make or break your programme – the wrong hire leads to stressed staff, disappointed applicants, and damaged relationships. This complete guide includes job description templates, interview questions, and cost analysis to help you make…

You’ve spent months crafting the perfect awards marketing campaign, yet entries aren’t flooding in. The problem isn’t your messaging – it’s that professionals no longer trust marketing channels for career decisions. Here’s how successful awards programs activate trusted industry voices…

“I wanted this to be more of the people and not just from a small group of individuals,” explains one awards organizer who made the switch. The results speak for themselves: increased reach, enhanced credibility, and stories that “go a…

So, your open call didn’t go as planned. Maybe entries were lower than expected, the timeline slipped, or feedback from artists, judges, or partners wasn’t as positive as you’d hoped. But this isn’t the end of your programme. It could…

Whether it’s marketing challenges, technical issues, or unresponsive judges, awards rarely go exactly as planned. This article covers solutions to the most pressing problems.

Setting the right price for award submissions is a delicate balancing act. Charge too much, you limit applicants; charge too little, you risk overwhelming costs. Discover powerful AI prompts that create pricing strategies perfectly tailored to your awards program.

While many event organizers start with a simple online form, as competitions grow in scale and complexity, a dedicated award management platform can provide a more structured and streamlined experience. Many organizers struggle with resource constraints, needing a solution that…

Planning an open call is exciting and a great chance to discover new talent. Whether it’s an award, residency, or commission, there are lots of things to consider.

Whether you’re running competitions, grants, or awards, this guide covers the complete award management lifecycle from planning to execution.

Whether you’re hosting your first open call or looking to refine your process, our guest contributors share expert insights to help you succeed.

Looking for the ideal East London venue to host your awards or exhibition celebration? Discover standout spaces, handpicked by Zealous, that promise to elevate your event and delight your guests.

Discover the top creative sector trends and predictions for 2025, from AI innovation to community-driven opportunities.

Managing Employee Recogition Awards can be overwhelming without the right tools. This article introduces 7 tools that simplify submissions, judging, and voting to help you focus on creating meaningful events.

Running a successful competition means knowing what’s working – and what isn’t. Learn the 5 key metrics that will help you understand your candidates’ journey and grow your program effectively.

In this article, we’ll explore how shifting perspectives on creative competitions could make them friendlier, fairer, and more inclusive spaces.

Hosting an open call is truly an enriching experience. It allows for you to discover new talent and support them, create connections, and foster creativity. However, once the opportunity is over, the real challenge—and the true potential for impact—emerges. This…

As uncomfortable as it can be, sending out commiserations emails are part and parcel of running an opportunity. Luckily there are ways of turning disappointment into opportunity

This article shares practical strategies for organisations to run impactful creative opportunities like open calls and competitions with limited resources.

Looking for a robust tool to manage growing submissions? We compare 5 solutions – from basic forms to full awards management platforms that scale with you.

If you’re looking into signing up with Submittable or maybe you’re already using them, here are some reasons why you may want to try Zealous as an alternative to Submittable.

Posting your design competition on a listing site might be a good way of sharing your contest to more people. We share our top directories to post your design competition on to get more entries.

Learn the secrets to running an online photo contest with our expert guide to boosting entries and growing your campaign.

We’re here to help you get the word out for your photography competitions! Here’s a list of photography competition directories to start the process.

If you are launching an award, it will be essential for you to build trust with anyone who might consider submitting to you. The longer your process and the bigger the submission fee, the more vital it will be to…

Should you take payments upfront when candidates submit your award? The following article breaks down best practices when taking entry fees.

Our Founder at Zealous, Guy Armitage, had the opportunity to speak to Michelle Bowen at UK New Artists about their exciting programmes and managed to get some invaluable tips for emerging creatives too. You don’t want to miss this. Read…

Behind the glitz and glamour of an awards ceremony lies a meticulous planning process which, if not executed with precision, can lead to disappointment for all involved.  

Looking back at Zealous Amplify: Mental Health and Wellbeing, community manager Bethan and marketing coordinator Carmela talk about all things marketing.

Without good marketing, no one will submit to your award/competition. Here are a few tips to increase exposure to your programme

Taking submissions can be a breeze or a nightmare; the deciding factor is your tools. Here are our top tips in picking the right ones for your needs.

How to maximise engagement for your open call, create exposure for your brand, show support for your community & begin a meaningful dialogue.

Writing good guidelines can make or break your competition. This article covers best practices to guarantee candidates apply with the right content for your needs.

Getting partners involved and securing high-level individuals to help you select winners is no easy task. But having someone recognisable on your panel is a big perk for candidates who want their work seen. Here are our top tips to…

Timing is everything – opening your submissions at the wrong time or for too long could negatively impact the number of candidates who apply. Find out more on what to watch out for when crafting the schedule of your programme.

Choosing the right process whilst taking entries could save you hundreds of hours of admin. To save you a little time we’ve compiled a list of the best submission platforms serving the creative eco-system at this time.