Active artistic practice
Ongoing creative activity organized around the artist's personal goals, pace, working methods, and support needs.
Programs
A complete support ecosystem.
DDANS connects the time it takes to make art with the public structures that help artists be seen, recognized, and supported over the long term.
Exhibitions and documentation
Professional presentation, installation, photography, archive pages, and public context that treat the work as cultural contribution.
Art competitions
Structured opportunities for review, recognition, and future exhibition. Official calls and submission updates are published on the DDANS Art Contest site.
SDP-informed planning
Practical conversations with artists and families about meaningful creative activity, budgeting, schedules, and Spending Plans.
Next open call
Toward January 2027.
Digital submissions are planned for Aug 18–Nov 30, 2026. Results will be announced Dec 15 on the contest site and by email. Artists selected in the first round will arrange a phone appointment before original artwork intake, Dec 16, 2026–Jan 15, 2027. Prize, venue, and exact exhibition dates remain unannounced.
Program archive
First DDANS Art Competition · 2026
The inaugural contest is retained below as a historical record. These completed-event rules do not apply to the upcoming 2027 program.
2026 schedule and venue
May 27–30, 2026
Shatto Gallery, 3130 Wilshire Blvd #104, Los Angeles, CA 90010
May 30 · 12:00 PM
Awards were announced at 4:00 PM after the closing program.
Completed
Archived information only.
2026 artwork and submission requirements
- Open theme; original, creative, exhibition-ready work no larger than a standard 30 × 30 inch canvas.
- No advance registration; registration was completed at artwork drop-off.
- Works had to be framed and fitted with hanging wire on the back.
- Applicants provided artist name, age, address, regional affiliation, phone number, a short introduction, and an A4 printed image of the work.
2026 judging and awards
Professional 60% · Visitor 40%
Visitor ballots were gathered during the exhibition period under the event's published voting rules.
1st $300 · 2nd $200 · 3rd $100
Winning artists were featured by the foundation after the exhibition.