CALL FOR APPLICATION

We are delighted to announce the

2026 edition of PREZIOSA YOUNG

our esteemed international contest and exhibition dedicated to showcasing the talents of emerging jewellery artists.

Download call for application 2026Login

Since its inception in 2008, Preziosa Young has served as a vital global platform, championing new artists, goldsmiths, and designers. It has significantly driven the evolution of research jewellery and unveiled groundbreaking creative work. Throughout its various editions, the contest has been a powerful springboard for selected artists, enabling them to build successful careers, secure gallery representation, and gain further recognition, thus solidifying PY’s long-standing reputation for excellence.

An international jury, comprising experienced curators, renowned artists, and insightful critics, undertakes the rigorous selection process. They choose a limited number of outstanding young artists from all submitted applications.
The names of past jurors and winners can be viewed here.

Preziosa Young is fully supported and expertly organized by Le Arti Orafe (LAO), the prestigious Jewellery School based in Florence since 1985. LAO is committed to leveraging its resources to support new generations of craftspeople, designers, and artists who explore innovative approaches and anticipate future trends within the jewellery landscape.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The jury’s selection is based on:

Quality of design
and manufacture

Contemporary use
of materials

Conceptual and technical
innovation

Eligibility and Participants

 

We invite artists, goldsmiths, silversmiths, and designers worldwide to submit projects that showcase their current artistic practice.

This competition targets professionals under 35 years old; therefore, only candidates born after December 31, 1990, are eligible. Participants are expected to be young professionals with established activity and a demonstrable curriculum.
Current students or recent graduates are not eligible to participate in PY.

Costs

Participation in the contest is free of charge.
Applicants are responsible for the shipment and related insurance costs of their objects to and from Florence if selected for exhibition. Insurance during the exhibition(s) will be covered by the organizer.

Materials and techniques

Pieces submitted can be handcrafted, machine-produced, or utilize 3D technology, among others. The manufacturing process does not determine the quality of the objects.
Furthermore, the pieces can be made in any material.      

Key Dates

  • Application deadline: November 30, 2025
  • Candidate selection: By December 31, 2025
  • Results communication: Mid-January 2026

Awards

  1. Preziosa prize.
    The main prize for selected participants is the organization of an itinerant exhibition of their work and the publication of an accompanying catalogue (see “EXHIBITION(S)” section below).
  1. LAO special prize.
    One of the selected artists is invited to Florence for a period of one week to give a lecture to students. The prize covers accommodation costs for the winner but not travel costs and other costs.
  1. Inhorgenta prize.
    One selected artist will be awarded a free exhibition space for participation in the following edition of the Inhorgenta fair.


    4.    Other Special Prizes
    Additional special prizes are awarded annually by project partners and will be announced during the year.

Selection
Process

The jury will review all submitted images and texts for selection. If deemed necessary, candidates may be requested to send physical objects for final evaluation.

Exhibition(s)

The exhibition featuring the jewellery of the selected artists will debut in Florence in Spring 2026. In the following months, the exhibition will travel to other cities and galleries, with a schedule to be published after the winner announcement.

A high-quality online catalogue will be published, featuring a short biography, full-color images, and a description of the work of each selected artist. A limited number of physical catalogues will also be printed for the exhibitions.

By entering the competition, candidates automatically accept the obligation, if selected, to provide their works for all scheduled exhibition events. Winners must send an appropriate number of objects for the exhibitions, as specified by the organizers. These pieces must be the same (or belong to the same series) as those submitted for the selection process.

Shipment

Applicants are responsible for organizing and covering all shipping costs (including to and from Florence for exhibition or selection, if requested) and any related insurance. Artists may choose whether to insure and/or send their pieces by registered mail. Any customs fees and resulting delays are also the sole responsibility of the candidates.
The shipping costs from Florence to subsequent exhibition venues, however, will be covered by the organization.

Other
Commitmenst

By submitting their application, selected artists agree to sell one of their exhibited objects to the contest organizer at a mutually agreed cost. These purchased objects will not be resold but will become part of LAO’s permanent Preziosa Young collection.

Application
Process

Applicants must complete the online registration form and provide all required information. Upon registration, the system will send a verification message to the provided e-mail address, allowing applicants to upload materials in multiple sessions until the deadline.

Required information for online registration
To obtain your personal registration code and access your submission page, please provide the following details:

  1. Complete residential address (specify shipping address if different).
  2. Phone number with full international and area code.
  3. E-mail address (all communications will be conducted via email; please use an internationally valid address).
  4. Social media pages / website.
    These details are essential for exhibition documentation and promotion if you are a selected artist.

 

Materials to Upload (after receiving candidate code):

    • CV/Education/Work Experience
    • Short artist statement (Max 3000 characters including spaces). This text will be used in the catalogue and promotional communications if you are selected.

Privacy Note: To preserve the anonymity of the selection process, DO NOT include your name or any other personal references (e.g., website, social media handles) in the artist statement or presentation texts.
Candidates who fail to comply with this rule will be disqualified.

    • Images of 5 objects for the contest.
      Each object can be illustrated with up to 5 images.
      Accepted file format: JPG, minimum size 2400×1600 pixels, minimum resolution 300 DPI.

       

      Image submission tips
      We suggest submitting still life images with a plain white or black background. Pictures of worn pieces may be accepted only if photographing the object in still life is exceptionally difficult.

  • Captions for each object (in English), following this specific format:

Title
Typology and year
Materials and techniques
Object size: height x width x depth (in millimeters)
Credits (photograph, collectors, others)

Example caption

Purple rain.
Ring, 2018.
Silver, titanium, emerald, plastics, stainless steel.
50x42x38
Handcrafted, 3d printed, lost-wax casting, engraving, stone setting.
Foto credits: Name Surname
Other credits.

Note: Images with non-compliant captions will be excluded.

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