Art Olympia is an open art competition held as a biennial event with the goal of discovering talented artists around the world and supporting their activities. It aims to promote exchanges of the world's various cultures through arts.

Artworks of approximately 240 pieces selected from three places -- 80 pieces each in Tokyo, New York and Paris -- will undergo a final review in Tokyo by a panel of great judges invited from around the world.

Artworks in two-dimensional, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mineral pigments, print, charcoal, and collage can be accepted.

Total value of cash and extra prizes: Approx. US$500,000.

In general category, the prize money will be $120,000 for the first place, $30,000 for the second place, and $20,000 for the third place along with trophies and a lot of benefits. In student category, $20,000 for the first place, $10,000 for the second place, and $5,000 for the third place, along with trophies and a lot of benefits. As one of the benefits for students, they will be considered to entry in both general and students categories.

Special prizes will be awarded according to the scores, and there will be also Judge Awards.

Anyone who has passion for art and whose age is 18 or older is eligible to apply for the competition.

For more details, visit the websites at the bottom.

New York-Based Judges

Gregory Amenoff: Artist, Professor of Columbia University/ New York

Brett Littman: Executive Director of The Drawing Center / New York

Eric C Shiner: Director of The Andy Warhol Museum / Pittsburgh

Nicolas Touron: Artist, Professor of School of Visual Arts / New York

Kara Vander Weg: Director of Gagosian Gallery / New York

Paris-Based Judges

Jean-Michel Alberola: Artist, Professor of Ecole Nationale Superieure des

Beaux-Arts / Paris

Cecile Debray Amar: Curator at Centre Pompidou / Paris

Leiko Ikemura: Artist, Professor of The Berlin University of the Arts /Berlin

Chu Teh-I: Artist, Director of Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) / Taipei

Tokyo-Based Judges

Yuji Akimoto: Director of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art/ Kanazawa

Hiroshi Minamishima: Professor of Joshibi University of Art and Design /Tokyo

Ryohei Miyata: President of Tokyo University of the Arts /Tokyo

Hiroshi Senju: Artist /Tokyo

Akira Tatehata: President of Kyoto City University of Arts Awards /Kyoto

Schedule

1. Application period: Until March 31, 2015

2. Final round in Tokyo: June 10, 2015

3. Exhibition: "Toshima Ecomusee Town," New Toshima Ward Office Building on June 13-28, 2015

The First International Open Art Competition "Art Olympia 2015"

US official site: http://www.artolympiausa.com/awards.html

World Wide site: http://www.artolympia.jp/enart/