Annual Betty Bowen Award

The Seattle Art Museum is accepting entries for the 45th Annual Betty Bowen Award, which honors a Northwest artist for their original, exceptional, and compelling work. The award winner receives an unrestricted cash prize of $15,000 and a solo exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum in spring 2023. Up to two Special Recognition Awards of $2,500 may also be granted at the discretion of the Betty Bowen Committee.

Betty Bowen (1918–1977) was a Washington native and enthusiastic supporter of Northwest artists. Her friends established the annual award as a celebration of her life and to honor and continue her efforts to provide financial support to artists of the region. Since 1977, the Seattle Art Museum has administered the yearly grant application process.

The award is open to visual artists in all media working in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Artists of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants must submit a resume, artist statement, and six images with titles, dates, media, dimensions, and brief descriptions. Artists working in time-based media (performance, film, or video) may submit up to three additional video files. All applications must be submitted online by 11:00 PM PST on August 1, 2022. The entry fee is $10.00.

The winner is selected through a two-part jury process. In the first round, applicants are reviewed anonymously and 5-6 finalists are selected. Finalists present their work to the committee in the second round and receive a $500 honorarium for related expenses. Selection is based on the compelling nature of the artist's ideas and contribution to the field, the quality and creativity of the work submitted, the artist's commitment to developing their work, and the impact the award will have on the artist's career.