2025 Arts Innovator Award (AIA) Guidelines

Arts Innovator Award
Background image: Tariqa Waters (2023 AIA Recipient)

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About Artist Trust

Artist Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Washington State artists thrive. 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. We view our mission to support and encourage artists working in all disciplines in Washington State through a lens of racial and geographic equity, actively working to ensure that artists from all backgrounds and Washington State geographies are reached through our services.

About the Award

The Artist Trust (AT) Arts Innovator Award (AIA) recognizes artists who demonstrate innovation in their art practice. This unrestricted award of $25,000 is 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 who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+, living with/having disabilities, and/or living in rural communities are strongly encouraged to apply. For support with your application, see the Help with your application section below.

Water Birth, The Red Chador: Genesis I seriesAnida Yoeu Ali (2024 AIA Recipient), Water Birth, The Red Chador: Genesis I series, 2019, Performance by Anida Yoeu Ali; photo by Masahiro Sugano, image courtesy of Studio Revolt
Royaltee (Who We Be)Kamari Bright (2024 AIA Recipient), Royaltee (Who We Be), photo, 2017, Amina Maya

Who is eligible

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;
  • Washington State residents at the time of both application and payment (payment will be made June 2025);
  • Individual artists (or artist teams) 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 may 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 the application and/or payment (payment will be made June 2025)
  • Applying as cultural organizers, curators, or applying on behalf of a company, nonprofit, organization, fiscal sponsorship, 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.
JuliaTariqa Waters (2023 AIA Recipient), Julia, 2020, mixed media, motorized Lunchbox, 96″ x 72″ x 48″, Thermos, 36″ x 60″ x 36″

How to apply

The 2025 Arts Innovator Award application is available online starting February 17, 2025. Visit artisttrust.submittable.com/submit to submit.

DEADLINE: Monday, March 17 2025, 11:59 PM PST

Materials to Submit

  • Discipline Statement (50 words or less)
  • Artist Biography (150 words or less or up to 1.5 minutes of video/audio)
  • Innovation Statement (400 words or less or up to 3 minutes of video/audio)
  • Work Samples (10 work samples total. See Work Sample Guidelines section below)
  • Artist Resume (8 page limit)
  • Impact Statement (150 words or less)

Applications are only accepted through Submittable.

Video guidelines for your biography and innovation statement
Materials submitted in video format should be low-tech. Low-tech videos are unedited, without filters, scene changes, or multiple clips. The video should be a straight and clear shot of the applicant. The video can show the applicant’s full body, from the waist or shoulders up. The video cannot contain any of the applicant’s artwork.The video should be:

  • Clear and focused footage of the applicant
  • Up to 1.5 minutes long for the biography and up to 3 minutes long for the innovation statement
  • Easy to see and hear the applicant
  • Footage of the applicant speaking clearly

The video should not be:

  • Footage of more than one person
  • Multiple clips and/or reels or edited in any way
  • A video with voiceovers
  • More work samples or have the applicant’s work in view
  • Longer than the maximum time – up to 1.5 minutes for the biography and up to 3 minutes for the innovation statement
Audio guidelines for your biography and artist statement
Materials submitted in audio format should be clear and easy to hear without any additional audio including music, white noise, other voices, and/or any background noise that is not the applicant’s own voice.

The audio should be:

  • Clear and easy to hear the applicant’s voice
  • Up to 1.5 minutes long for the biography and up to 3 minutes long for the innovation statement
  • The applicant’s voice only

The audio should not be:

  • More than one person’s voice
  • Edited audio of the applicant including auto-tune, sped up or slowed down manipulation, and/or higher or lower pitched
  • More work samples
  • Longer than the maximum time (up to 1.5 minutes for the biography and up to 3 minutes for the innovation statement)
Artist Teams
A team of two or more artists may apply if they have a documented history of creating and presenting work as a team for at least three consecutive years. Artists applying as a team must contact Artist Trust to confirm eligibility before applying. If eligible, one artist will submit the application and list team members in the application. All team members must meet the eligibility requirements.

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. Available by appointment.
Reserve a spot for March 5
Reserve a spot for March 6

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.

Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82821778740

Reference Guide
Review examples of successful applications from past year’s grantees at artisttrust.org/resources/aia-reference-guide.

FAQ
Answers to questions about the application, including resumes, career stage, etc. can be found in the AIA FAQ.

Contact Us
We are happy to answer questions about your application. 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.
Jump to contact information.

If you require a translator to complete your application or have other accessibility needs, please get in touch.

Choosing your disciplinary category

Choose whichever category best fits your project and your work as a whole. Some category suggestions are below, but not all artists fit squarely in a certain discipline. Pick an option and use the discipline statement (50 words) to provide additional context.

Literary Arts: Creative Nonfiction, Experimental/Hybrid Works, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Poetry, and Zines.

Media Arts: Animation, Augmented Reality, Film, Immersive Audio & Video Works, Podcasts, Screenplays, Sound Art, Teleplays, Video Art, Virtual Reality, and Web-based Art.

Performing Arts: Costume Design, Dance, Music, Music Composition, Musical Theater, Performance Art, Playwriting, Puppetry, Set Design, Sound Design, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Theater, and Traditional/Folk Performance.

Visual Arts: BioArt, Digital Arts, Drawing, Ecological Art, Environmental Design, Furniture Art, Illustration, Installation, Interactive Installation & Sculpture, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Public Art, Sculpture, and Traditional/Folk Art.

Tips & hints

  1. Read the guidelines and instructions carefully and follow them.
  2. Start your application at least a week before the deadline and give yourself plenty of time to prepare your materials. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit. Submittable slows down from high traffic in the hours before the deadline. We do not accept late applications.
  3. Write and save your application in a word processing program. Copy and paste the text into Submittable when you are ready to submit.
  4. A discipline statement (50 words or less) describes your artistic practice. It can be as simple as “I am a poet” or give a more detailed explanation of your practice. You will also be asked to select a disciplinary category (detailed above). Two artists from each category will be selected for an interview on May 8, 2025.
  5. A biography (150 words or less or up to 1.5 minutes of video/audio) tells your story as an artist. It provides details about you and your work, such as where you were born or grew up, your training, career development, accomplishments, or other information that may not be found elsewhere in the application.
  6. An artist statement (350 words or less or up to 3 minutes of video/audio) is an introduction to your work or a specific body of work. It gives an overview of its concepts, ideas, and themes. It may include information about how your work developed, why you have created it, your vision, influences and inspirations, your philosophy of art-making, and other details that introduce your work. A strong artist statement is clear and specific, captures your speaking voice, and avoids clichés and jargon. This can be in written, video, or audio format.
  7. The innovation statement (400 words or less or up to 3 minutes of video/audio) should describe how your work is innovative. Consider how your work is developed, experiments with new ideas, takes risks, and/or pushes the boundaries of your discipline. Please contextualize how your work is innovative in your field.
  8. Work samples are the most important part of your application. Include your strongest work. Make sure your work samples are well-documented, cohesive, and follow the work sample guidelines below. Upload your work samples in the order you’d like the panel to review them.
  9. An artist résumé (8 pages or less) is an overview of your arts and professional experience, accomplishments, education and/or training, and other information about your artistic career. It’s much like a job résumé, except its focus is your art. The résumé must be submitted as a .pdf file.
  10. The impact statement (150 words or less) explains how this award will make a difference for you. What will the funding and recognition do for you, your work, and your practice? How will you use the money?
  11. Do not include links to external websites, portfolios, social media, etc. in any of your submitted materials.
  12. Take advantage of our support services and resources listed. You can find examples of each component of the AIA application in the reference guide.
  13. Have a friend, colleague, or another artist review your application before you submit.
  14. If you have questions about your application, the guidelines, your eligibility, or anything else, give us a call or email. Find our contact information below or call (206) 467-8734 and ask to speak with someone from our programs team.

Work sample guidelines

You may submit work samples in audio, video, image, and manuscript formats. The works in your samples should have been created within the past 10 years. Review the guidelines for information on file types, sizes, lengths, and total number of work samples. We do not accept physical artwork in any format, slides, or files sent via email. All work samples must be submitted within your Submittable application.

The total amount submitted must equal no more than 10, which may not necessarily be how many files you upload.

If you are submitting multiple file formats, you may submit no more than 10 files. One image is equal to one minute of video, audio, or manuscript page. For example, you can submit a single 10-minute video, 10 images, or 10 manuscript pages. Or you can submit a combination. For example, you can submit 2 minutes of a video, 5 pages from a manuscript, and 3 images—this equals 10 work samples.

To respect the panelists’ time, samples submitted over the maximum allowed will not be considered. Links to third party websites, such as SoundCloud, Vimeo, and YouTube, are not accepted anywhere in the application.

File Format Details

Audio

  • Maximum of 10 minutes total.
  • Begin and end each sample where you want the panel to begin and end.
  • Choose a selection that will make the panel want to see/hear more (avoid long intros, etc.).
  • Do not submit samples with cue times.
  • Do not submit work samples designed for promotional purposes (such as a performance reel).
  • Links to work samples on third-party websites, such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. are not accepted.
  • Submit an individual file for each song or work.
  • File type(s): .aiff, .mp3, .wav
  • Music and Music Composition: No scores please.

Images

  • Maximum of 10 images.
  • Recommended no smaller than 1920 pixels on the longest side.
  • Recommended 72 ppi/dpi (standard web resolution).
  • Submit one piece per file (do not collage several angles or multiple pieces within one image).
  • Each piece should be well-lit and in focus.
  • File type(s): .gif, .jpeg

Manuscript

  • One manuscript with a maximum of 10 pages, plus one synopsis page.
  • All manuscripts must be double-spaced with a 12-point font size or larger (except poetry, plays, or experimental works).
  • Multiple poems, stories, pieces, or excerpts should be combined into one file.
  • Each excerpt, story, poem, or piece should start on its own page. Do not put different pieces on a single page.
  • One synopsis page is allowed. Include it as the first page of your work sample (one synopsis page + maximum 10 manuscript pages). If the work sample consists of multiple excerpts, use the synopsis page to give information for each. A synopsis page can include publication dates, whether the selections are from a larger series, additional description, or details about where the piece fits within a larger body of work.
  • File type(s): .pdf

Video

  • Maximum of 10 minutes total.
  • Do not submit work samples designed for promotional purposes (such as a filmography or choreography reel).
  • Submit an individual file for each distinct work.
  • Video compilations of still images are not allowed.
  • Begin and end each sample where you want the panel to begin and end.
  • Do not submit samples with cue times.
  • Choose a selection that will make the panel want to see/hear more (avoid long intros, fade-ins/outs, etc.).
  • Links to work samples on third-party websites, such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. are not accepted
  • Resolutions: recommended minimum 640 x 480, maximum 1920 x 1080.
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 or 16:9.
  • Bit Rate: recommended above 240 kbps.
  • Frame Rate: recommended minimum 12 fps, maximum 30 fps.
  • Format: .avi, .m4v, .mpg, .wmv

Submittable has a default maximum file upload size of 400 MB and a default maximum total submission size of 800MB. This means individual files cannot exceed 400MB, and in total, your application cannot exceed 800 MB.

Work sample descriptions
You may add Work Sample Descriptions when uploading each file. Work Sample Descriptions should include: title, materials, dimensions, time, or pages, and the year work was completed. Also, use the description to clarify your role (e.g. cinematographer, lighting designer, “I’m the second to the left in this image.”). You may include a short (1-2 sentence) description of the work.

Work sample order
Submittable orders your files in the order that you upload them.

Selection process

Selection Criteria
All applications are reviewed by one multidisciplinary panel consisting of five artists from across the state with expertise in a range of artistic disciplines. Panelists review all eligible applications online through Submittable and meet at Artist Trust to discuss applications and recommend recipients. Panelists are asked to review all applicants through a lens of racial equity, consider geographic diversity, and highlighting a range of disciplines and practices. The panel selects the recipients based on:

  • Artistic excellence and innovation within applicant’s field/medium;
  • Advancement of the artist’s practice;
  • Artist’s continued dedication and exploration of new work;
  • The background and experience of the artists.

Racial Equity Background
Artist Trust is a nonprofit organization that helps Washington State artists of all disciplines thrive through direct support, connections, and advocacy. We believe a fair and just society ensures artists of all background 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 systematically oppressed, and we are committed to partnering with them to eradicate white supremacy throughout our organization and to support historically marginalized artists across Washington State.

Artist Trust recognizes that Black and Indigenous people experience more barriers and less opportunities than other people of color. We use the term BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to acknowledge this reality.

Read more about our work towards racial equity.

Panelists Selection
Panelists are chosen by Artist Trust staff and represent a range of disciplines, ages, genders, geographies, ethnicities, and stages in their careers. Panelists are kept confidential until the announcement of the awards.

Schedule
Application opens: February 17
Application deadline: March 17
Panel review: late March – May
Finalist Cohort meeting: May 6
Finalist interviews: May 8
Notification: May
Award announcement: June

Questions?

Contact Artist Trust

  • With questions about applications, guidelines, eligibility, support services, and resources;
  • If you need to access or edit a submitted application prior to the deadline of March 17, 2025.

Contact Submittable

  • With website access issues;
  • With questions about uploading or formatting files;
  • With other technical support needs.

Submittable Contact Information
submittable.com/help/submitter

Artist Trust Contact Information
Monday–Friday: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm PST

Anna Teiche (she/her) // Program Coordinator
anna@artisttrust.org: (206) 467-8734 x23

Lydia Boss (she/her) // Program Co-Director
lydia@artisttrust.org: (206) 467-8734 x25