supporting early career visual artists
The online application form is now open. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 31, 2026.
Artists from any country may apply, but the application and supporting materials must be submitted in English. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have either received a degree in studio arts between 2016 and 2024, or had their debut show at a gallery or juried art exhibition between 2016 and 2026.
Successful applicants will be notified via email by December 2, 2026. Grants will be disbursed in two payments, with $3,000 by January 15, 2027 and the remaining $2,000 upon completion of the proposed project.
2026 Selection Panel
Sharon Matt Atkins
Sharon Matt Atkins is Deputy Director for Art at the Brooklyn Museum, overseeing strategic planning for their exhibitions and collections. She contributes to the development of exhibitions and public-facing initiatives, particularly in the field of contemporary art. Her work focuses on fostering dialogue among artists, institutions, and audiences through accessible and engaging programming.
Laura Hoptman
Laura Hoptman is the Executive Director of The Drawing Center, a post she has held since 2018. She came to The Drawing Center after eight years as a curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, an institution where she also began her career in the 1990s as a curator with a specialty in drawing.
Aaron Levi Garvey
Aaron Levi Garvey is a Jewish-American museum Director and Curator specializing in Contemporary Arts and Culture and currently serves as Director of the Art Museum of West Virginia University. He has worked with esteemed institutions, including as the Chief Curator of the Andy Warhol Museum, the Janet L. Nolan director of curatorial affairs at the Jule Museum at Auburn University, Founding Chief Curator of The Hudson Eye and Long Road Projects Foundation. Garvey’s practice includes curatorial work, public programming, and community-oriented projects that connect art with education and civic life. He focuses on creating platforms that expand access to artistic practices and encourage dialogue across communities. He currently serves on several non-profit boards within the art world and beyond.
Qinghui Cao
Qinghui Cao is an associate professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in China, one of the country’s leading art institutions. He is involved in teaching, research, and the development of contemporary art practices within an academic context. His work also engages with international collaboration, contributing to exchanges between Chinese and global art communities.
