The Creative Capital Award is an initiative supporting professional artists in the United States by providing funding and career development services to enable the creation of groundbreaking, experimental, and innovative works. The 2026 grant cycle invites proposals in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film, and Literature, with a focus on multidisciplinary, technology-based, and socially engaged projects. Creative Capital encourages proposals that push artistic boundaries and address urgent social issues, such as fentanyl, military veterans, and wealth inequality. The award is designed to support projects at various stages of development, particularly those in their early stages, to maximize the impact of Creative Capital’s resources.

Awardees receive a combination of financial support and professional development services over a five-year period, including strategic planning, legal and financial advising, marketing and communication strategy, mentorship, and industry networking. The funding structure allows artists to draw down grants over this period as needed for their projects. The organization aims to foster a diverse cohort of approximately 50 artists across various disciplines, backgrounds, career stages, and geographic regions.

The application process consists of three rounds. In Round I, applicants submit a project title, a short description, a 500-word project proposal, a biography, a resume, and an artist website (if available), along with responses to key questions regarding artistic innovation, influences, intended impact, and how the award would support their careers. They must also submit a sample of past work relevant to their discipline. Round II requires those advancing to provide a project budget, timeline, additional work samples, and proof of eligibility. Round III consists of a final panel review where applicants confirm project collaborators and may submit optional updates. The selection process is managed by an external panel of curators, industry professionals, and artists, whose identities remain confidential until the awards are announced.

Eligibility requirements state that applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, O-1 visa holders, or Tribal ID holders, and at least 25 years old by the application deadline. They must have at least five years of professional artistic practice and cannot be currently enrolled in a degree-granting program. Individuals who have previously received a Creative Capital Award or are applying for the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant in the same year are ineligible. Projects that are promotional, curatorial, educational, or primarily for ongoing organizational operations do not qualify.

The award amounts range from $15,000 to $50,000 per project. Additionally, Creative Capital is launching the State of the Art Prize, a two-year initiative awarding $10,000 to one artist per state and U.S. territory. Recipients of this prize must provide proof of residency in their awarded state and are not required to complete their proposed project. However, an individual cannot receive both the Creative Capital Award and the State of the Art Prize in the same year.

Applications open in 2025, with deadlines as follows: April 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET for Round I submissions, notifications of advancement to Round II in June 2025, and advancement to Round III in September 2025. The final list of awardees will be publicly announced in early 2026. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to awards@creative-capital.org. No phone inquiries are accepted.