Robert Motherwell First Book Award
The Robert Motherwell First Book Award from the Dedalus Foundation recognizes outstanding debut books advancing scholarship on modernism in the arts.
Funder: Dedalus Foundation
Due Dates: December 16, 2026 (Nomination deadline)
Funding Amounts: $10,000 prize for the winning author; annual award
Summary: Recognizes outstanding debut books that make significant contributions to the history and criticism of modernism in the arts.
Key Information: Nominations must be submitted by publishers; eligible books must be first books published in English in 2026.
Description
The Dedalus Foundation's annual award celebrates authors of first books that provide original and significant scholarship on the history and criticism of modernism in the arts. Eligible fields include the visual arts, literature, music, and performing arts, with a broad definition of modernism encompassing art from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The award aims to encourage new voices and fresh perspectives in modernist studies, with selection by a jury of distinguished scholars and writers.
