The Kingston Prize

The Kingston Prize is Canada's national portrait competition, a biennial (now annual) event open to any Canadian artist depicting a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in a portrait based on a real-life encounter. Its mission is to encourage and reward the creation of contemporary portraits by Canadian artists, promote Canadian talent through competition, and build an enduring historical record of Canadians, by Canadians. The competition includes an exhibition tour showcasing finalists' works across the country. The Prize supports a growing community of portrait artists and provides visibility through news coverage and public exhibitions.