2025 Arts Innovator Award
Deadline: March 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST
ABOUT ARTIST TRUST
Artist Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports working artists of all disciplines in Washington State. We fuel our funding and other programs for artists through fundraising, partnership, and community engagement. Recognized as a national model for direct funding and professional development for working artists, we have invested over $15 million in individual artists since our founding in 1986. Visit www.artisttrust.org to learn more.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Artist Trust (AT) Arts Innovator Award (AIA) recognizes artists who demonstrate innovation in their art practice. Two unrestricted awards of $25,000 are given annually to two Washington State artists of any discipline who are originating new work, experimenting with new ideas, taking risks, and pushing the boundaries of their fields.
Funding for this award is generously donated by the Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation. Dale recalls receiving grants that supported experimentation early in his career, adding credibility, opening doors, and enabling new connections for him as an artist. Today Dale remembers the importance of this support, and he and Leslie would like to help other artists in a similar way.
All 8 AIA Award finalists will be officially recognized as a cohort and will be compensated for their involvement in the 2025 AIA finalist processes. This includes participating in a finalist interview (May 8) and subsequent prep meeting with other 2025 AIA Awards finalists and AT Programs staff (May 6). Finalists will still be eligible for other 2025 Artist Trust awards.
Artists of color and artists living outside of King County are strongly encouraged to apply. For support with your application, see the Help with Your Application section below.
Before starting your application for either award, please read the 2025 Arts Innovator Award Guidelines.
ELIGIBILITY
The 2025 Arts Innovator Award is open to artists and artist teams residing in Washington State working in all disciplines.
APPLICANTS MUST BE:
• 18 years of age or older by application deadline;
• Washington State residents at the time of both application and payment (payment will be made June 2025);
• Generative artists (those who are the originators of works of art);
• Available for finalist cohort meeting on May 6 and interviews on May 8, 2025. Applicants who will not be interviewed as finalists will be notified on Friday, May 2, 2025.
APPLICANTS MUST NOT BE:
• Recipients of more than one AT grant per calendar year;
• Previous recipients of the James W. Ray Distinguished Artist Award or Arts Innovator Award;
• Current graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at the time of both application and payment (payment will be made June 2025) ;
• Applying as cultural organizers, curators, or applying on behalf of a company, nonprofit, organization, fiscal sponsorship, or community group;
• Current AT staff, Board of Trustees, AIA panelists, or their family;
• Affiliated with Chihuly Studio, the Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation, or family of Dale or Leslie Chihuly.
HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Applying for grants can be hard, and we want to help you. Artist Trust offers the following support services and resources to guide you through the application process:
2025 AIA Info Session: Attend this Info Session on Thursday, February 27, 5:30 – 6:30 pm to learn about 2025 Arts Innovator Award! During this event, our Programs Team will share general information about applying for 2025 AIA. This is not a private session, but rather a space for learning and asking basic questions about the application process. Register for the Info Session.
How to Apply for 2025 AIA: A brief, pre-recorded walkthrough of how to apply, the process, and selection criteria.
Watch the webinar on YouTube
Office Hours: 20-minute consultations with our staff provided in person, via Zoom or by phone, on March 5 and 6. Make an appointment at artisttrust.org.
Study Hall: Pop into this open Zoom session on Tuesday, March 11, 1 – 3 pm to work on your 2025 Fellowship Award application. During Study Hall you can speak with program staff, work through your application on mute, or request a breakout session for direct support. This is not a private session, but rather a space for information sharing and work time.
Reference Guide: Review of successful applications from past awardees here.
Contact Us: We are happy to answer questions about your application. Our contact information is below. Please note: it’s hard for us to answer questions on the day of the deadline. Start your application early and don’t wait to contact us with questions.
ARTIST TRUST'S COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY
Artist Trust is a nonprofit organization that helps Washington State artists of all disciplines thrive through direct support, community building, and advocacy. We believe a fair and just society ensures artists of all backgrounds and identities are included in its cultural narratives.
Artist Trust Racial Equity Statement:
Artist Trust is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization, and to working against the systems of racism we have inherited, upheld, and perpetuated. We know we are not there yet. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have been systemically oppressed, and we are committed to partnering with them to eradicate white supremacy throughout our organization and to support historically marginalized artists across Washing- ton State.
More information about our work towards racial equity and how it affects our grantmaking programs can be found here.
CONTACT ARTIST TRUST
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. –3:00 p.m. PST
- with questions about application requirements, guidelines, eligibility, etc.
- for any accessibility accommodations needed for you to complete the application
- if you need to access or edit a submitted application if it is still prior to the deadline of March 17, 2025
Lydia Boss (she/her) // Program Director
lydia@artisttrust.org : 206/467-8734 x25
Anna Teiche (she/her) // Program Coordinator
anna@artisttrust.org : 206/467-8734 x26
CONTACT SUBMITTABLE
- with website access issues
- for questions about uploading or formatting images
- with other technical support needs