Art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Art competitions were held as part of the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Medals were awarded in five categories (architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture), for works inspired by sport-related themes.^[1]

VenueStedelijk Museum

Dates17 May – 12 August 1928

No. of events13

Quick facts Art competitions at the Games of the IX Olympiad, Venue ...

Art competitions at the Games of the IX Olympiad
Art competitions pictogram
Venue	Stedelijk Museum
Dates	17 May – 12 August 1928
No. of events	13
← 1924 1932 →

Close

The art exhibition was held at the Stedelijk Museum from 12 June to 12 August, and displayed 1150 works of art from 18 countries. Additionally, the literature competition attracted 40 entries from 10 countries, and the music competition had 22 entries from 9 countries.^[2] Contestants at the Amsterdam Olympics were given the opportunity for the first time to list their works of art as available for sale, though no mention of price or sales were permitted at the exhibitions.^[3]

The art competitions at the 1928 Games were larger in scope than for previous Games. Instead of a single competition in each of the five artistic categories, awards were presented in multiple subcategories.^[4] The judges of the music competition declined to award any medals in two of the three subcategories, and only presented a single bronze medal in the third.

Art competitions were part of the Olympic program from 1912 to 1948.^[5] At a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in 1949, it was decided to hold art exhibitions instead, as it was judged illogical to permit professionals to compete in the art competitions while only amateurs were permitted to compete in sporting events.^[6] Since 1952, a non-competitive art and cultural festival has been associated with each Game.^[7]