PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

To further the Decorative Arts Trust’s mission to foster appreciation and study of the arts, the Trust established the $100,000 Decorative Arts Trust Prize for Excellence and Innovation. The Prize funds outstanding projects that advance the public’s appreciation of decorative art, fine art, architecture, or landscape.

The Prize is awarded to a nonprofit organization in the United States for a scholarly endeavor, such as museum exhibitions, print and digital publications, conservation and preservation projects, and online databases. The Trust’s selection committee aims to recognize impactful and original projects that advance scholarship in the field while reaching a broad audience.

“This award advances the work of our talented mid- and late-career colleagues as a complement to our efforts to support young scholars through the Emerging Scholars Program,” states Matthew A. Thurlow, the Decorative Arts Trust’s Executive Director. “We have made a long-term commitment to furthering innovative scholarship in the arts while reinforcing the Trust’s mission and promoting our broader programs. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate exceptional endeavors in the arts.”

Details and Deadlines

Nominations should be submitted to thetrust@decorativeartstrust.org by June 30. Projects can extend 1–5 years for final completion after the Prize is awarded, but no longer. Collaborative endeavors that unite multiple institutions are encouraged to submit nominations. Ongoing projects are suitable for nomination.

Nominations should include:

• Cover letter (limited to two pages)
• Narrative stating the objectives and outcomes (limited to five pages) 
• Budget
• Timeline
• CVs of institution’s key personnel (limited to two pages each) 
• List of collaborating partners (if applicable) 
• List of current funders and other potential fundraising sources (if applicable)
• Most recent 990 

Please combine the sections of your nomination into one single PDF file. 

Finalists will be notified by the end of August. The recipient will be notified by the end of the year and will be required to submit additional content. 

Recipients

• 2023: Concord Museum
• 2022: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
• 2021: Black Craftspeople Digital Archive
• 2020: Craft in America