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# Hashtag Art: How Social Media Impacts the Future of Online Art Competitions!
- Sutithi
- Jun 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 15
No matter how hard you try to run against the tide, social media influence is something you cannot resist!
It shapes our lives and preferences, without even being aware of it! Our world is dominated by hashtags, subscribers, influencers, and a flurry of Instagram, FB, or TikTok memes. And they are to make or break your destiny as an artist!
While the digital canvas unfolds, the art world is bound to get caught by its strong hold! For any creator in 2025, the call is to do more than just creating art; to let the world know about what you are up to! You must shout out loud, with your chisels and brushes!
Yes, there is a sky full of opportunities, but with a new set of trials. Let’s find out how social media is impacting the art contest trends and how the issues such as authenticity and superficial engagement (AI art) are addressed, besides, how artists are bagging lucrative prize money and global spotlight without hurting their pockets!
Traditional Art Competitions as Gate-keepers Vs Social Sharing
Traditional or physical art exhibitions or art competitions were bound to a gallery space, juried by an expert panel of judges, and word-of-mouth publicity. Artists had to wind through this way, struggling to get recognized by reputed galleries or contest organizers. The drill was to handle the logistics of art shipment, frame their works to have the professional flair and wait for their fate!
A beep and a pause here ….
Social Sharing: A Breather for Contemporary Artists
Things have changed! Now, they don’t need any physical space or a gallery backing to prove their worth; digital exposure for artists helps them reach out with their creations to thousands of viewers in a jiffy! Yes, fame is just a click away. A well-timed social media post can rope attention from contest organizers, curators or collectors which was a big deal before!
FB or Instagram for artists: The Click-away 24/7 Gallery!
Social sharing has leveled out the field for the art-lovers or those who aspire to be one, so that anyone can join the art events happening globally and get discovered organically by competition organizers and gallery owners.
One of the contemporary digital art galleries like TERAVARNA is making waves with its online art competitions and open art show contests for global artists. They include artists from the remotest part of the earth who would have never dreamt of a gallery representation or a wall space to hang their art! It’s all because of the publicity and expanding networks through platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or Tumblr.
Anyone Can Enter International Juried Art Competitions!
Yes, artists without a formal training can join any international juried art competition, nothing can stop them, if they have talent and some basic social media know-how.
Due to convenient online access, anyone can get an entry and exposure to these juried competitions, from anywhere in the world, no matter if they are accessing from remotest location in Africa, or a small-town set-up in Canada – artists are winning global fame & money because of these social media platforms.
Now, artists can make their digital portfolios and share it with the world, engaging viewers in cities like New York to Nebraska. Some competitions don’t even require an entry fee! They are free online art contests or access to the ones with a nominal fee. All you need is a virtual portfolio, one post and a bio, and there you go!
Online Voting in Art Contests: Crowdsourced Judging Vs Expert Panel of Jurors
These days, the idea of crowdsourced art is getting much more popular. Artists are using different social media platforms to engage readers and viewers in the whole creative process. This is truly fascinating! It’s all about mass idea sharing and using the voting methods to judge and evaluate artworks.
Let’s look at the aspect of online voting for art contests as judging is no more confined to the closed-door jurying.
Crowdsourced Judging | Expert Panel of Jury |
Voted by the public that can have experts or non-experts. | Always evaluated by expert and professional in the industry |
Accessible to anyone | Restricted to appointed jury only |
Decision criteria are based upon emotional factors, personal preference, and popularity of the artist | Decision criteria are based on artwork’s originality, technical skill, etc. |
Involves thousands of voters across the digital space | It’s a time-taking process involving very few selected professionals |
May be influenced by social media standing of the artist or reach | Influenced by personal bias or internal politics |
Considered as a democratic and all-inclusive process | This is rather a monopoly |
Best suited for public contests | Suited for juried art competitions or artist grants, etc. |
Thus, art competitions are reshaping their ways as to how the contests are run, judged, and promoted to the next best level. Though the online voting in art contests may benefit audience interaction and boost artist portfolio, there are challenges involved.
Contemporary contest organizers must strike a balance between quality of artworks and the online reach. It would be wise to focus more on artistic skills rather than the number of followers & comments. A combination of public votes and expert jurying is what it needs.
Viral Art Challenges Giving Way to Online Competitions
Have you taken the hashtag challenges to rise to overnight fame? They are not just a fun thing, but launchpads for bigger opportunities. A viral post can land you up in a renowned art magazine page, or get you an invitation to group shows! The social sharing part included in most online art contests helps in jurying and gives an artist the much-needed boost!
Role of Influencers in Judging Art Contests: The Demi-Gods of Social Media
Previously, gallery owners and curators would dominate the art contest scene, now the social media influencers can judge a show or an art contest. Even big art brands and curators can also host contests.
Shifts have now changed from competition to social media marketing for artists or art promotion online.
It has now become a norm to know how intelligently one can use the hashtags to attract the right number of followers, or get featured in a renowned art website or virtual art competition platforms like TERAVARNA, Saatchi Art, etc.
Tips: Know your niche and choose hashtags related to your style, trends, mediums, and the targeted viewership.
The Digital Challenges: Good Things Come with a Price!
Social media can make or break your destiny as an artist; we have mentioned at the very onset!
If you are sharing your artworks across these platforms, make sure to watermark them, so that no one can copy your art as their own! Beware of the plagiarism issue as the authenticity factor is still blurred in the virtual platforms and AI artworks have started to show up.
Besides, there can be mental pressure on an emerging artist who’s constantly being exposed to likes and subscribes, counting followers and comments. It can lead to creative burnout!
What Lies Ahead for the Online Art Contests in a Hybrid World
So, the question remains, whether social media is going to replace traditional galleries and art contests? One must remember that social media is not the end of the process, it is just the means, a tool at an artist’s disposal. Creators will have to use that strategically for their own benefit, not being a slave to it.
To boost artist visibility, one must be exposed to the hybrid model, Artificial Reality modes, etc. The duality of easy access & anxiety will be there, offering a modified pattern of competitions, where expert panels of jurors work with influencers or live streams happening on YouTube or Instagram.
The pattern of art competitions may change, what still remains unchanged is your artistic vision, your grit to strive for better.
Follow the social media and art trend, but don’t get carried away. This is the only way you can make a real impact in a shifting world of realities, featuring neo futurism to kinetic art in TikTok and more.
Browse the official website of TERAVARNA art gallery open call for artists to have the latest updates on online art competitions. Browse, enter, win and shine, for the world is watching!
