The Decorative Arts Trust, a nonprofit organization committed to the study and appreciation of material culture, offers the Decorative Arts Trust Prize for Excellence and Innovation. This prestigious award of $100,000 is intended to support and highlight outstanding projects that enhance the public’s appreciation of decorative arts, fine arts, architecture, or landscape. By funding scholarly endeavors, the Trust aims to foster impactful and original scholarship while promoting its mission through broader programmatic support.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations based in the United States. The Prize supports a variety of scholarly activities, including but not limited to museum exhibitions, digital and print publications, conservation and preservation efforts, and the development of online databases. Projects must be able to be completed within one to five years of receiving the award. The initiative encourages collaborative efforts involving multiple institutions and also accepts nominations for ongoing projects.
To apply, organizations must submit a nomination package by June 30 to the email address thetrust@decorativeartstrust.org. Required materials include a two-page cover letter, a five-page narrative outlining objectives and outcomes, a detailed budget, a project timeline, two-page CVs of key institutional personnel, a list of collaborating partners (if any), a list of current and prospective funders (if applicable), and the most recent IRS Form 990. All documents should be consolidated into a single PDF file for submission.
Finalists will be announced by the end of August, with the final recipient notified by the end of the year. The recipient must also submit additional content upon selection. The Prize serves as a complement to the Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program, reflecting the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting arts scholarship across career stages.
Previous recipients of the Prize include respected institutions such as Drayton Hall Preservation Trust (2024), Concord Museum (2023), and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (2022), among others. The Decorative Arts Trust operates from Media, Pennsylvania, and can be contacted at 610.627.4970 or thetrust@decorativeartstrust.org for further inquiries.
