Announcing the New Decorative Arts Trust Prize for Excellence and Innovation

To further the Decorative Arts Trust’s mission to promote and foster the appreciation and study of the arts, the Trust has established a Prize for Excellence and Innovation to be awarded annually beginning in 2020. The inaugural prize will be for $100,000 to a scholarly endeavor undertaken by a non-profit organization, such as museum exhibitions, print and digital publications, and online databases. Projects for consideration must advance the public’s appreciation of decorative arts, fine arts, architecture, or landscape design.

The Trust invites applicants to submit nominations and self-nominations through June 30, 2020, which should stipulate the defined mission and outcomes of the project as well as include a budget, project timeline, and list of key personnel and partners, if applicable. Projects can extend 1–5 years for final completion after the prize is awarded, but no longer. Collaborative endeavors that unite multiple institutions will also receive consideration.

The Trust’s selection committee aims to recognize impactful and original projects that advance the field while reaching a broad audience. Finalists will be notified by the end of 2020.

The Trust’s Executive Director Matthew A. Thurlow believes “this new award will advance 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. Thanks to the generosity of three lead donors, we are making a long-term commitment to furthering innovative scholarship in the arts while reinforcing the Trust’s mission and promoting our broader programs. We look forward to celebrating exceptional endeavors in the arts.”

The Trust is thrilled to embark on this initiative. We welcome additional contributions to endow the Prize, including appreciated securities and IRA and other retirement fund disbursements. 

Edit: The March 31, 2020, deadline was extended to June 30, 2020, on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All images courtesy of Old Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.