Prize for Excellence and Innovation
Prize for Excellence and Innovation supports nonprofit organizations’ scholarly projects in art, architecture, and landscape to advance knowledge, public appreciation, and broad public engagement.
Funder: The Decorative Arts Trust
Due Dates: June 30, 2027 (Annual nomination deadline)
Funding Amounts: $100,000 annually; projects must reach final completion within one to five years after award
Summary: Supports scholarly projects that advance scholarship and public appreciation of decorative art, fine art, architecture, or landscape.
Key Information: Recipient institutions are expected to have at least one staff member maintain Trust membership throughout the project.
Description
The Decorative Arts Trust awards the Prize for Excellence and Innovation annually to a nonprofit organization in the United States. The prize supports outstanding scholarly endeavors, including museum exhibitions, conservation and preservation projects, and online databases. It recognizes original, impactful work that advances knowledge while reaching a broad public audience in decorative art, fine art, architecture, or landscape.
The program places innovation and public engagement alongside scholarly achievement. Both new and ongoing projects may be nominated, and collaborative endeavors uniting multiple institutions are encouraged. Nominees are encouraged to explain how their projects demonstrate innovation and what impact the prize would have on their work.
