Project Awards & Fellowships

Applications must be submitted through our grants management platform. Each applicant will need to log in to an existing account or create a new one on SmartSimple. The platform allows applicants to save their progress and return later, so you do not need to complete the application in one sitting. As you draft your application, we strongly recommend working in a separate document to back up your responses and saving often to avoid technical issues and loss of information. You can download login instructions here.

Applications are currently closed.

If you are having login issues, email grants@rasmuson.org or call the Foundation office at 907-297-2700/toll free in Alaska 877-366-2700.

The Project Award is open to artists of all career stages and intended for a specific artistic project with goals, activities, and outcomes that can be accomplished within one year. A project budget is required in the application. Applications are evaluated based on the quality, feasibility and impact of the proposed project. The Project Award is open on odd years starting in 2025 and awards $10,000 for up to 50 artists.

The Fellowship Award is open to mid-career and mature artists and intended for the artist’s overall creative practice and development rather than a single project. Funds may be used flexibly (e.g. time, space, materials, and/or professional development). No project budget is required. Applications are evaluated based on the artist’s creative excellence, track record, and future potential. Fellowships are open in even years starting in 2026 and awards $25,000 for up to 20 artists.

For the quickest response, email your questions to arts@rasmuson.org. You can also schedule a virtual meeting during office hours here (select “IAA”).

Recipients must wait 3 years to apply for another award.

2025 Project Award recipients will be eligible to apply in 2028 for the Fellowship Award

No. You may only submit one application per year.

The Individual Artist Awards Program is highly competitive, with hundreds of applications received each cycle. To stay neutral as a grantmaker, the Foundation assembles a national panel of renowned artists and art professionals to review and determine up to 20 awards for the 2026 Fellowships.

Panelists will consider many factors of the application, including:

• Potential for artistic growth and development
• Demonstrated success with prior projects
• Artist statement and experience
• Quality of work samples
• Discipline
• Career stage
• Application quality and thoroughness

Cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc., of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.

Submitted applications will be reviewed by a national cultural content expert. If works include or references cultural content, the applicant or group must convey how they have partnered with this cultural group, practice, or region.

The Foundation will offer general office hours to answer questions, provide technical assistance, and to give applicants an opportunity to connect directly with us. We will not provide panel feedback on individual applications.

The Foundation defines career stage as follows: 1) emerging artists are those in the early stages of their careers yet have a strong portfolio and established artistic voice; 2) mid-career artists have created an independent body of work and have progressed steadily as an artist; 3) established artists have an extensive independent body of work representing a lifelong investigation and maturation of personal creativity.

Yes, the Individual Artist Awards are taxable income. Please contact a tax professional if you have specific questions.

At the end of the grant period (or when your project is complete — whichever comes first), please submit a final report detailing what you accomplished during the grant period and how the funds were used. A report template will be provided for guidance. The Foundation does not require receipts or a financial report.

Final reports are included as part of your grant agreement. Late or absent reports may result in ineligibility to apply again in the future.