DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award

The DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award, offered annually and administered by the Indy Arts Council and funded by a legacy gift from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, is a grant program for professional artists in Indiana. The program recognizes contemporary visual artists and supports original projects that promote innovation in the visual arts field.

Up to five contemporary artists will be honored each year with grants of $10,000 for aspirational visual arts projects. Each project must demonstrate a need for the requested funds and be completed within the stated deadline. The program allows for high-tolerance risk and exploration to support artists' creative practices. Each awarded artist must submit a final report and participate in a final public exhibition of their work. Recipients will be required to document the project with images and reflections regarding the impact on their artistic development and how the project brought something new to the field of visual art.

Applications are accepted twice annually. Round 1 deadline is May 3, 2026, and Round 2 deadline is October 18, 2026. Applications must be submitted via indyarts.grantplatform.com. Review the guidelines for eligibility requirements and review criteria. Contact [email protected] with questions.