Creative Capital Award

Creative Capital, a national nonprofit organization established in 1999, is dedicated to supporting individual artists across the United States through financial assistance, advisory services, and community-building opportunities. In 2027, to commemorate 25 years of national artist support, Creative Capital is offering the Creative Capital Award and the newly introduced State of the Art Prize through an open call process. These awards are designed to support innovative and original artistic projects from individual artists working in disciplines such as Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film, and Literature. Eligible projects may also incorporate technology, multidisciplinary, and socially engaged themes. All grants are awarded via a national, open call, external review process involving multiple rounds of evaluation. The Creative Capital Award provides unrestricted project grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. In addition to financial support, recipients also gain access to a five-year program of strategic advisory services, professional development opportunities, and a supportive community of artists. Projects should be experimental and boundary-pushing in terms of content or form, and artists are expected to demonstrate a bold, imaginative approach in their proposals. The grant is not intended for projects that are promotional, curatorial, journalistic, or educational in nature, nor for projects intended to fund existing businesses or nonprofits. The new State of the Art Prize complements the Creative Capital Award by providing $10,000 in unrestricted funding to one artist in each U.S. state and inhabited territory. It is aimed at supporting regional and rural artists and strengthening grassroots creative economies. All applicants to the Creative Capital Award are automatically considered for the State of the Art Prize, and both awards use the same application and review process. However, artists who have previously received the Creative Capital Award are not eligible for the State of the Art Prize. Conversely, recipients of the State of the Art Prize are allowed to apply for the Creative Capital Award in future cycles. The application process is structured in three rounds. In Round I, applicants submit a project proposal including a description, biography, resume, and one work sample. Round II requires selected applicants to provide an itemized budget, a timeline, additional work samples, and proof of eligibility. Round III includes confirmation of collaborators and optional project updates. Applications are evaluated based on artistic strength, project feasibility, and the timing of the artist's career, with artistic innovation being the most heavily weighted criterion. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, Tribal ID holders, or O-1 visa holders who are at least 25 years old and have at least five years of professional experience in their artistic discipline. Applicants may not be enrolled in a degree-granting program or apply to the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant in the same year. Projects must not be completed or premiered before July 1, 2027. Applications for the 2027 Open Call opened on March 2, 2026, and will close on April 2, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Notifications of advancement will be sent in June 2026 (Round II), September 2026 (Round III), and final awards will be announced in December 2026. Public announcements of the recipients will be made in early 2027. Awardees are expected to complete their projects using the support offered during the five-year engagement period. No separate application is required for the State of the Art Prize. For questions, applicants are encouraged to email [email protected]. Phone inquiries are not accepted. A detailed application handbook and information session are also available to guide applicants through the process.

Emphasize originality, clear artistic inquiry, feasibility; reviewers prioritize artistic strength; avoid ineligible formats (journalism, promotion, education).