Distinguished Artist Award

The City of Cupertino's Arts and Culture Commission is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Artist Awards Program, which includes the Distinguished Artist Award. The Commission’s mission is to encourage artistic achievement in visual, literary, digital, and performing arts, while promoting community engagement through creativity. The Distinguished Artist Award specifically honors established artists who demonstrate a substantial body of work, high artistic merit, and a consistent history of contributions to both their artistic discipline and the local community. Applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio that highlights their use of media, tools, and techniques, showcasing originality and mastery of composition and design. The evaluation will consider the artist’s creativity and connection to this year’s theme, “Threads that Bind Us.” A personal statement must accompany the application, covering the artist’s background, goals, education, training, awards, and community involvement. One letter of endorsement or support is also required. Eligible applicants must either reside in Cupertino or attend a high school, college, or art institution physically located within Cupertino. The artistic categories accepted include Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, and Digital Arts. For visual artists, a portfolio of up to three pieces is allowed. Performing and film artists may submit no more than five minutes of video or audio, while literary artists may submit up to five pages of original written work. All entries must be original—AI-generated content is strictly prohibited. The submission of previously entered work from past Artist Awards is strongly discouraged. The first-place recipient of the Distinguished Artist Award will receive a $1,000 cash award. In order to receive funds, the selected artist must submit a completed W-9 form and be willing to collaborate with the Arts and Culture Commission to promote the arts in the community. This may include participating in future public events and acknowledging the City of Cupertino in any promotional materials related to the award. Applications are accepted online and must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Required materials include a completed online form, a personal statement, a portfolio, a resume or exhibition record, and a letter of support. Questions may be directed to artistawards@cupertino.gov.

Ensure that one submitted piece clearly connects to the theme. Avoid reusing past submissions and do not use AI-generated work.