the creative capital award 2026
In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, Creative Capital expands its support of individual artists with the 2026 Open Call for the Creative Capital Award and the launch of the new State of the Art Prize.
The Creative Capital Award provides individual artists with unrestricted project grants for the creation of bold, innovative, original, and imaginative new artistic works. In addition to unrestricted project grants from $15,000 up to $50,000, the Award offers transformative professional development support including strategic advising, peer mentorship, industry connections, and community-building opportunities. Grants are awarded via a national, democratic, open call, external review process.
The Creative Capital Award seeks project proposals in the following disciplines:
- Visual Arts: architecture & design, craft, drawing & illustration, ecological art, installation, painting & printmaking, performance art, photography, public art, sculpture, social practice, sound art, video art, technology, and socially-engaged visual art
- Performing Arts: dance, jazz, multimedia performance, music, musical theater, opera, theater, playwriting, technology, and socially-engaged performing arts
- Film: animation, documentary film, experimental film, and narrative film
- Literature: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry