---
title: Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition
description: Biennial national competition for Black artists in Dallas; category winners receive $1,000 and museum collection inclusion.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/41bbdca8-2e79-4613-8fac-cafc0026b555
type: program
status: open
createdAt: "2026-10-24"
updatedAt: "2026-10-24"
programType: Prize/award
organization: African American Museum Dallas
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/african-american-museum-dallas
deadline: "2026-11-20"
entryFee: 25 USD
location: Dallas, TX, United States
isOnline: false
compensationRange: $1,000 awarded to one artist in each of six categories; Best in Show receives a solo exhibition.
disciplines:
  - painting
  - sculpture
  - mixed media
  - drawing
  - printmaking
  - photography
---

# Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition

**Hosted by:** African American Museum Dallas

**Type:** Prize/award | **Location:** Dallas, TX, United States | **Deadline:** November 20, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $25

## About This Program

The Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition, the 29th biennial event, is a prestigious platform for showcasing excellence in Black artistry. Artists compete across categories such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and mixed media; category winners receive recognition and awards, and their works become part of the museum's permanent collection. This tradition not only preserves but also celebrates Black artists' creative achievements and contributions to culture for generations to come.

In 1976, the African American Museum initiated its first annual competition for southwest Black artists. The purpose of the Competition and Exhibition stemmed from the Museum's need to build a distinguished art collection and to provide Black artists a venue to display their work. After several years of annuals, the competition became a biennial. In 1999, the African American Museum's Board of Trustees named the Biennial Southwest Black Art Competition and Exhibition the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition for Professor Simms' outstanding contribution to art and art education.

The competition awards $1000.00 to one artist in each of the following categories: painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, printmaking and photography. One work is chosen from the category winners as the Best in Show artist. This artist also wins the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in the two years following the competition. The Best in Show artist agrees to donate a piece of their work from the show to the museum's permanent collection.

Previous winners include: Charley Palmer (AL), Sedrick Huckaby (TX), Jeremy Biggers (TX), Florence Staats (NJ), Asia Youngs-Bailey (TX), Lee Ransaw (AR), and Leamon Green (TX).

### Application Requirements

### Submission Requirements

- For each artwork, provide the artist's name, title of work, completion date, medium, dimensions, and a unique entry number. Number entries sequentially: 1, 2, 3, etc.
- Submit images of each artwork in JPEG format only. Images embedded in PDFs will not be accepted.
- For sculpture entries, submit 1–4 images showing the work from different perspectives.
- All images must be 300 dpi, with a maximum file size of 5 MB per image.
- Include an artist statement and current biographical information.

### Important Dates

- Entry deadline: November 20, 2026
- Artist selection notifications: November 23–27, 2026
- Accepted artwork delivery deadline: January 17, 2027

Withdrawal Policy

Once accepted artwork has been received by the museum, it may not be withdrawn from the exhibition.

### Eligibility Criteria

- Open to Black artists residing in the United States.
- All submitted artworks must be original works created by the submitting artist.
- AI-generated art and photography will not be accepted.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Disciplines:** painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, printmaking, photography
- **Note:** Open to Black artists residing in the United States. All submitted artworks must be original works created by the submitting artist. AI-generated art and photography will not be accepted.

### Additional Requirements

- Artist's name, title of work, completion date, medium, dimensions, and a unique entry number for each artwork
- Images in JPEG format only (no images embedded in PDFs)
- 1–4 images for sculpture entries from different perspectives
- Images at 300 dpi, maximum 5 MB per image
- Artist statement
- Current biographical information

## Compensation & Benefits

$1,000 awarded to one artist in each of six categories; Best in Show receives a solo exhibition.

**Includes:** Prize

$1000.00 awarded to one artist in each of the following categories: painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, printmaking and photography. One work is chosen from the category winners as the Best in Show artist. This artist also wins the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in the two years following the competition and agrees to donate a piece of their work from the show to the museum's permanent collection.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** September 14, 2026
- **Deadline:** November 20, 2026
- **Program Start:** February 4, 2026
- **Program End:** May 22, 2027

## Contact

**Email:** lwilson@aamdallas.org

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://artist.callforentry.org/agreetoterms.php?ID=18180