Colorothon Open 2026 by Colorothon Foundation [₹1 Lakh Prizes; Exhibition at Kokoro Art Gallery]: Submit by Oct 2

Colorothon Foundation is inviting original handmade paintings and drawings from adult artists residing in India for Colorothon Open 2026. The national fine art contest offers prizes worth ₹1 lakh, an exhibition opportunity for 25 shortlisted artists and travel support for five winners. Registration and submission are completely free.

About Colorothon Foundation

Colorothon Foundation promotes artistic participation and creates platforms where people from different backgrounds can connect through art and creative expression.

About Colorothon Open 2026

Colorothon Open 2026 is a national fine art contest accepting original handmade paintings and drawings from across India.

The contest will be conducted in two stages. A three-member jury will first assess photographs of submitted artworks and shortlist 25 entries. The physical artworks of these shortlisted artists will then be evaluated to select five winners.

All 25 shortlisted artworks will be exhibited at Kokoro Art Gallery, Lucknow, for a fortnight.

Theme

The theme is “Paint a Canvas of a Multitude of Senses.”

Artists must select a real moment from their lives and use colour, pattern, composition and other visual elements to communicate its sights, sounds, smells and emotional experience.

Every entry must respond to the theme.

Eligibility Criteria

The participant must reside in India.
The participant must be at least 18 years old on the date of entry.
Professional artists, art students and hobbyists may participate.
Participants below 18 years are not eligible.
Each artist may submit only one entry.
All participants compete in a single category.
Employees, trustees, judges and immediate family members of Colorothon Foundation and its partner organisations cannot participate.

Entry Fee

There is no registration or submission fee.

Artwork Requirements

Only original handmade paintings and drawings are accepted.
The artwork must be created on canvas or paper.
Permitted mediums include acrylic, oil, watercolour, pencil, charcoal, ink, pastel and similar traditional mediums.
The artwork’s longest side must measure between 12 and 36 inches.
It must have been created within the previous two years.
It must not have won a prize in another contest.
The artist must use their own imagination or their own photograph as a reference.
The work must not copy, trace or closely imitate another person’s artwork or photograph.

The following are not accepted:

Digital art
Photography
Prints or reproductions
Sculpture or installations
Textile or three-dimensional artwork
AI-generated or AI-assisted artwork
Offensive, unlawful or copyrighted material belonging to another person

Prizes

The total prize pool is ₹1,00,000, distributed as follows:

First Prize: ₹40,000
Second Prize: ₹30,000
Third Prize: ₹20,000
Fourth Prize: ₹5,000
Fifth Prize: ₹5,000

Prize payment is conditional upon the winner signing the required winner’s agreement and completing the payment documentation.

Prizes will be paid within 60 days after verification and completion of the required documentation. Applicable TDS may be deducted.

Exhibition Opportunity

The 25 shortlisted artworks will be displayed at Kokoro Art Gallery, Lucknow, for a fortnight.

Shortlisted artists must send their physical artworks to the address communicated by the Foundation. Colorothon will reimburse reasonable inbound courier charges up to ₹750 per artwork, subject to submission of a valid receipt.

The Foundation will return the 20 non-winning artworks after the exhibition and bear the return-shipping cost. Returns are expected within 60 days after the exhibition closes.

Artists remain responsible for secure packaging and any courier risk during transit.

Travel and Accommodation for Winners

The five winners will be invited to the felicitation and exhibition-inauguration ceremony in Lucknow on November 1, 2026.

For each winner, the Foundation will provide:

A return train ticket between the winner’s city and Lucknow.
Two days’ accommodation at a three-star or equivalent facility.

The support applies only to the winner. Expenses for guests, meals and other costs not expressly listed will not be covered.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Online Screening

Entries will first be checked for eligibility, formatting and complete proof of process.

The jury will assess eligible submissions through the uploaded photographs and shortlist 25 artworks.

Stage 2: Physical Evaluation

The shortlisted artists must send their original physical artworks to the Foundation.

The jury will examine texture, scale, finish and craftsmanship before selecting the five winners.

The jury’s decision will be final, and no appeal will be considered.

Judging Criteria

Originality and creative thought: 30%
Technical skill and craftsmanship: 30%
Composition and use of medium: 20%
Overall impact and storytelling: 20%

Proof of Process

After completing online registration, participants will receive an Entry ID and acknowledgement email.

They must email the following to submissions@colorothonofficial.com, mentioning the Entry ID in the subject line:

Three photographs of the artwork.
A written statement of up to 100 words.
A signed Artist’s Originality Declaration.

The three photographs must show:

The artwork at an early stage.
The artwork near completion.
The finished artwork placed beside a handwritten note.

The handwritten note must contain:

Artist’s full name
The words “Colorothon Open 2026”
Date

Each photograph must be no larger than 5 MB, and the complete submission email must remain below 25 MB.

The written statement should explain the artwork and how it was created. Entries missing any required item will not be screened.

How to Register?

Interested artists must:

Register through the Colorothon Open 2026 official page.
Note the Entry ID received in the acknowledgement email.
Email all three artwork photographs, the 100-word statement and signed originality declaration to submissions@colorothonofficial.com.
Mention the Entry ID in the email subject line.
Complete both registration and submission by October 2, 2026.

Online registration through the official website is compulsory. Entries cannot be registered through another method.

Ownership and Copyright

Artists retain copyright in their artworks.

By entering, participants permit Colorothon to use their submitted images and names for contest administration, exhibition and promotional purposes without additional payment.

The five winning physical artworks will be retained by Colorothon Foundation. The Foundation may exhibit or sell them, and any sale proceeds will be retained for its charitable work promoting art.

Winners must sign a separate agreement covering retention and sale of the physical artwork before receiving the prize. The artist will continue to hold copyright and may reproduce images of the work for their portfolio or self-promotion.

The physical artworks of the other 20 shortlisted artists will be returned after the exhibition.