INTERNATIONAL MASONIC ART CONTEST 2025
Organized by the International Museum of Freemasonry (MIFM)
July 21–27, 2025 | Castillonnès, France

 

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This announcement outlines the theme, submission dates, and participation details for the International Masonic Art Contest 2025. The competition will conclude with an exhibition during the International Masonic Week 2025, and final prizes will be awarded to the best artworks.
It is important to read the procedures before submitting artwork to us.
It should be noted that this contest is independent of any Masonic organization from any country.

Purposes
The purposes of this international art competition and exhibition are to:

1.    Encourage the creation of quality art inspired by Freemasonry, whether created by Freemasons or the general public.
2.    Showcase the diversity of artistic expression related to Freemasonry through a variety of styles, techniques, media, and perspectives.
3.    Support the International Museum of Freemasonry in its mission to preserve and promote art and culture inspired by Freemasonry, its principles, and its values.

 

Theme
The theme of the contest 2025 is "Freemasonry: Building Better Human Beings." Artists are invited to explore the values, symbols, and history of Freemasonry, or reflect on broader themes related to improving humanity, society, and the world.

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Key Dates

•    Proposal submission deadline: December 30, 2024
•    Final artwork presentation deadline: April 31, 2025
•    Deadline for receiving the artwork: June 30, 2025
•    Exhibition dates: July 21–27, 2025, during the International Freemasonry Week

 

Eligibility and General Rules

•    The contest is open to all Freemasons or the general public. Participants must be 18 by the final day of submission.
•    The museum welcomes a variety of cultural and aesthetic traditions, styles, and artistic media. Media may include painting, drawing, textile arts, printmaking, sculpture, glass, clay, ceramics, wood, leather, stone, metal, traditional and folk arts, mixed media, and digital art. This contest excludes poetry, writing, artistic performance, photography, video, and music. Some of these art forms will have their opportunities in specific contests in the years to come. The artwork can be created with the assistance of generative AI and/or enhanced with AI tools, but it must be based on the artist’s original work. The art can be enhanced using AI tools but cannot be 100% AI-generated. It will be judged in its own separate category and not against traditional art, digital art, photography, or 3D art. All entries must not violate any copyright laws.
•    Employees of the MIFM, members of the bureau of the association, as well as their immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee or bureau member, are not eligible as jurors.
•    Each artist may submit one piece of art.
•    The artwork must be original and completed after 2022.
•    The artwork may be up to 24 inches (61 centimeters) on the longest side, including the frame, and may not exceed more than 66 pounds (30 kilograms) in weight, including the frame.
•    The association of the museum is not responsible for framing works of art or attaching hanging or mounting mechanisms.
•    If there are any questions about authenticity, the MIFM reserves the right to demand proof of authorship. Failure to provide proof will result in disqualification.
•    The MIFM has the right to refuse submissions based on image quality, failure to meet requirements, inappropriateness of content, or concerns about copyright infringement.
•    All artworks must be available for sale. Either the original or reproduction is acceptable (see details below).
•    All artworks sent for the contest and exhibition remain the property of the artist until a possible sale during or after the exhibition. Specific publication contracts are offered to the artist by the MIFM.

 

Submission Process

1.    Registration and Proposal:
Artists must submit a proposal online by visiting our website at www.mifm.org/imac2025 and completing the entry form, which includes:

o    Title of the artwork
o    Description (200-300 words) explaining the concept and how it relates to the theme
o    Artistic medium
o    Artist biography (100-300 words), including Masonic affiliation (if applicable), written in the third person. Tell us a little bit about yourself: your artistic training, your artistic inspiration, media choice, any special techniques used, any prior exhibitions… anything that you would like MIFM and visitors to know about you. Also, include your website and social media URLs.
o    Portfolio (optional but encouraged)

 

2.    Presentation of the final artwork:
Prepare your image(s) according to the guidelines. Images must be sent using Wetransfer (https://wetransfer.com/) to: imac@mifm.org

•    If there are several images, they must be included in a Zip file. Sending images as email attachments is not allowed.
•    Image files must meet the following specifications:

o    JPG or PNG files only (JPG compression quality of 12, or the highest quality setting)
o    300 DPI resolution (Please try to keep the file size under 10 MB).

•    Do not send images of your artwork which has been framed or contains watermarks.
•    MIFM may crop your images for formatting purposes for use in their slideshow presentations, other off-site slideshows, YouTube presentations, other MIFM presentations and for other areas of the website if your images are used.
•    The sizing and labeling of your images are very important. Label your image files in the following manner: 2025MIFM, first and last name, image name, the medium used, size, price (if apply), year created. Here is an Example: 2025MIFM_AliceWhite_Sun_Photography_8x10_275_2017.
•    The file name may not include characters such as #, $, &, periods or other similar characters as part of the file, and it is important to follow these instructions about the file name to allow the right storage into the image database.
•    Image names may not exceed 40 characters. Note: the image name is the name of the artwork, not the file name.
•    If you send more than a file, add a PDF document which includes the list of each file as labeled including the artwork name as you want to have it displayed.

3.    Final Artwork Submission:
After verifying compliance with the general rules, artists will be invited to submit their final work for the exhibition in July. If the submission does not comply with the general rules, an explanatory letter will be sent to the artist.

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Jurying Process

•    A diverse panel of jurors from different artistic and cultural backgrounds will be selected. The jury changes from competition to competition to avoid favoritism.
•    A jury foreman will provide instructions and assessment criteria to the jury and will facilitate all jurying procedures to protect the integrity and reputation of the competition. The jury foreman will not vote.
•    The jury will evaluate submissions in two rounds:

First Step: the jury will evaluate each submission from digital images or photographs and the artist’s statement to determine if the artwork corresponds to the criteria explained in the “Eligibility and General Rules” and giving the approval for shipping for the second round. If the submission doesn’t meet the criteria a letter of explanation will be sent to the artist.
Second Step: the jury will assess the actual physical art objects, install the artwork for the exhibit and will vote to pronounce the winner of the awards. Every artwork selected for this second round will be included in the exhibit and in the virtual gallery of the Museum.
 

Jurying Criteria
The jury will evaluate the artwork based on the following criteria:

1.    Thematic Alignment: The artwork successfully reflects Masonic subject matter or the competition theme and includes a strong artist statement. The point of view is unique and expansive. The artwork deepens the viewer’s understanding of the theme.
2.    Innovation: The artwork demonstrates creativity, originality, and an innovative approach to the medium or subject matter. The individual expression is original, exceptional, and relevant. Overall, the artwork has a sense of surpassing other artworks in its ingenuity and style.
3.    Artistic Merit: The artwork exhibits excellent technical and aesthetic quality in its chosen medium. The material and method work to effectively articulate the overall message.
 

Awards

•    Masonic Art Grand Prix: The top three winning artists selected for the Overall Category will be selected from the different media categories. The First Place Winner selected will be rewarded with an artist residency in Castillonnès (the duration will be

indicated very soon), during which they will be able to exhibit their work, organize events, and more. The residency can take place withing one year from the date of the award with consultation with the MIFM. 
The prizes for the second and third place winners have yet to be finalized at the time of writing.
Artworks that receive a Masonic Art Grand Prix are not eligible for another award.
•    Media Awards: The top three winning artists from each media category.
•    Visitors’ Choice Awards: Determined at the closure of the exhibition based on public voting both on the site and online. The top three artworks chosen by visitors will receive special recognition. All exhibition pieces are eligible for Visitors' Choice Awards regardless of other awards received.

 

Winner Notification
Besides the Visitors’ Choice Award, if the artist receives an award, he/she will be informed a month prior to Freemasonry Week organized by the MIFM.
 

Special Invitation to Artists Attending the Event
All artists whose works are selected for the exhibition will be invited to attend the Gala Dinner during the International Freemasonry Week, offering a unique opportunity to connect with fellow Masons and art enthusiasts.
As a special reward, the winning artists will be our honored guests, and their dinner will be complimentary, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the contest.
All artists may also be inducted as Knights of Castillonnès, recognizing their contribution to this prestigious project.
 

Use Rights
Artists who submit their artwork to the MIFM website for an art competition and have any of their submitted artwork chosen for participation in the subsequent art exhibition agree to the following; That MIFM be granted usage of the chosen artwork, only for display, marketing and promotional purposes for that art exhibition, and for any future MIFM themed art exhibitions and that usage of that image(s) is limited to any MIFM press releases, MIFM event presentations, MIFM articles, MIFM graphics, MIFM slide shows, MIFM presentations, MIFM event materials and for use on the MIFM website.
The artist further agrees that MIFM can maintain an archive of the chosen artwork for a period five (5) years after the competition for the purpose of a historical documentation and as a record of past themed shows. This archive will be available for public viewing and be limited to the MIFM website (www.mifm.org). MIFM will credit each image creator with their Artist Name, File Name, and the Artist Website, if applicable. The Artist shall maintain all copyrights of any images that are submitted to MIFM.
No resale of or exchange of images will occur by MIFM without an agreement signed with the artist. All images contained herein or attached to this website are the property of the artist and the artist retains the sole copyright and all applicable rights to said images. No images may be copied or downloaded from this website.
Artists should also read the Art Contest Policy before sending its submission.
 

Sales
By entering this Masonic Art Competition sponsored by the MIFM, you will retain all rights to your artwork. In addition to the Awards, the MIFM offers a contract to the artist allowing the sale of the original work and reproductions.
 

Sales of the Artwork
After signing the contract between the MIFM and the artist, the commission intended to support the MIFM is as follows:

•    Original artwork: 40% commission for the MIFM (+4% processing fee)
•    Reproduction and derived products: 20% royalty.

Any and all promotional and advertising costs are assumed by the MIFM.
 

Handling of the Artworks
The MIFM will insure original artwork in their possession against loss or damage until it is returned to the artist.
If the original artwork is not sold, it will be returned to the artists at their own expense, according to their choice of carrier.
Artwork will not be altered in any way without the express permission of the artist.

 

Questions
If you have questions regarding this Art Contest theme or rules, please contact us at imac@mifm.org.

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