The 30th Annual Betty Bowen Award

There is still a young genius among us who has been overlooked!

Betty Bowen

 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Betty Bowen Award—a significant unrestricted cash award given annually to a single artist working in Washington, Oregon or Idaho. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce your work to SAM's curators of modern and contemporary art and the Betty Bowen Committee members. It is also a chance for artists' work to be critiqued by their peers. The rotating artist members on this year’s committee are 2006 Betty Bowen Award winner Margie Livingston and 2003 Betty Bowen Award winner Dan Webb; both will be instrumental in the selection process.

In honor of the 30th anniversary, the committee will select one artist to receive a $15,000 cash prize. The PONCHO special recognition award winners will receive $2,500.

How do I apply?

The application will be available June 16, 2008 at www.callforentry.org. You simply create an account, fill out an application and submit your images online. There is a $10 application fee. Entries must be submitted online. We will not be able to process applications sent to us by standard mail.

Deadline

Friday, August 15, 2008

Who is eligible for the award?

Visual artists working in Washington, Oregon or Idaho. Sorry, no performing arts.

What is the Betty Bowen Award?

Betty Bowen (1918–1977) was a Washington native and enthusiastic supporter of Northwest artists whose friends established the annual Betty Bowen Award as a celebration of her life and to honor and continue her efforts to provide financial support to the artists of the region. Since 1977, the Seattle Art Museum has hosted the yearly grant application process by which the selection committee chooses one artist from the Northwest to receive an unrestricted cash award.

Why should you apply for the Betty Bowen Award?

This is an opportunity for artists to introduce their work to SAM's curators of modern and contemporary art and the Betty Bowen Committee members. Also, each year two artists are selected as rotating members of the committee. It is a chance for artists’ work to be critiqued by their peers. The rotating artist members on this year’s committee are 2006 Betty Bowen Award winner Margie Livingston and 2003 Betty Bowen Award winner Dan Webb; both will be instrumental in the selection process.

How are the winners chosen?

The jury is in two parts. In part one, approximately five finalists are selected from among the entries (approximately 500). Finalists are contacted and their names are released to the press. They are asked to submit additional materials and are invited to present their work to the committee individually. After this review process, the committee selects one award winner, plus any PONCHO Special Recognition Award winners they wish to honor. Selection is based on but not limited to the following perceptions:

  • The quality of the work submitted for review
  • The creativity and skill of the artist
  • The artist's commitment to developing his or her work
  • The impact the award will have on the artist
  • How developed the artist is in his or her career

Please go to www.callforentry.org to access the application.

 
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