The South just got a little more time to show out.

The Gibbes Museum of Art, a cornerstone of Charleston’s cultural scene since 1858, has announced an extension for its coveted 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. Artists now have until Sept. 7, 2025 to submit their work for a chance at a $10,000 award — and the opportunity to have a piece displayed at the Gibbes for a full year.

Presented by Society 1858, the museum’s young professionals auxiliary group, the prize recognizes one artist annually whose work pushes the conversation forward on what it means to create in and about the American South. Eligible artists must live, work, or hail from one of 12 Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia.

“Year in and out, the prestigious 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art stands as a testament to, and celebration of, the amazing talents of artists living and working in the American South,” says Dr. H. Alexander Rich, president and CEO of the Gibbes Museum of Art.

In addition to the cash prize and exhibition, the winning artist will be honored in Charleston during a three-day celebration in February 2026, which includes the unveiling of their work, the annual Society 1858 Winter Party, and the Amy P. Coy Forum — where the artist will speak about their creative process. The winner will be announced in October 2025, selected by a jury of arts professionals, Society 1858 representatives, and the previous year’s recipient.

The prize’s track record speaks for itself: past winners have gone on to receive Guggenheim Fellowships, Joan Mitchell Fellowships, and Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants. Their work has been acquired by major institutions like The Met, The National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The Gibbes itself has also added several winning and finalist works to its permanent collection.

Recent honorees include Demond Melancon (2024), Sherrill Roland (2023), Raheleh Filsoofi (2022), and Stephanie J. Woods (2021), each adding their own voice to a legacy that blends tradition, innovation, and unapologetic Southern storytelling.

For Dr. Rich, this year’s applicants are expected to continue that legacy: “Keeping with this tradition, 2025’s 1858 Prize candidates promise to posit new and eye-opening ways to reflect upon our individual and collective worlds — and we cannot wait to be in awe once again of our region’s incredible artistic talent.”

Artists working across all media are encouraged to apply. Submissions are accepted exclusively through the museum’s website at gibbesmuseum.org/1858-prize, where full eligibility rules can be found.

Cover photo: Demond Melancon, the 2024 winner of the1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art, with his artwork currently exhibited at the Gibbes Museum of Art for a full year. Courtesy of Gibbes Museum of Art.