The BRAVA Awards

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) is proud to announce the return of its significant biennial award program, the BRAVA Awards (BIMA Recognizes Achievement in the Visual Arts). The awards will honor four exceptional contemporary artists, craftspeople, or makers whose work demonstrates artistic excellence, technical mastery, and meaningful contributions to the arts community. The awards will be presented in four categories, recognizing individual achievement and the broader impact these artists have had on the arts landscape.

The award was inspired by the values and vision of museum founder Cynthia Sears, who has been a passionate advocate for a world that supports, respects, and honors artists, craftspeople, and creative makers. The awards are designed to make a direct and significant difference in the lives of contemporary working artists and craftspeople, as well as a lasting impact on the arts landscape of our region and beyond.

Each artist selected in one of four categories will receive an unrestricted award of $15,000, and recognition of their achievement through a short video, promotion, and live award program. Each BRAVA awardee is selected through a unique competitive process from one of four independent Jury Committees, composed of working artists, educators, and art sector leaders and thinkers. The BRAVAs will be awarded every two years through a dedicated Award reserve, seeded by a restricted gift to the museum and maintained by BIMA.

Applications open April 1, 2025.

Want more info on the application and jury process? Click here.

Emerging Artist Award

(Puget Sound region)

The BRAVA Award for Emerging Artist recognizes the work of contemporary visual artists and craftspeople in the Puget Sound region who are early in their professional careers. This award is intended for artists who have gained initial recognition for their visual arts practice, demonstrate a serious commitment to pursuing a career in the arts, and whose work is considered promising by a jury. Eligible artists work in a variety of media, including but not limited to fiber/textile, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, performance art, installation, ceramics, and mixed-media or collaborative projects. This award is open to artists based in the Puget Sound region, which includes Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Whatcom, Clallam, Kitsap, Island, and San Juan Counties.

Artists’ Books Artists Award

(United States)

The BRAVA Award for Artists’ Books Artists supports contemporary visual artists and craftspeople working in the genre of Artists’ Books. These works of art incorporate the concept of the book in various ways, often inviting the user to engage with them over time through interpretation, manipulation, or storytelling. Artist’s books can be small edition works or unique one-of-a-kind objects. This award is open to artists working in a range of media, including but not limited to fiber/textile, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation, ceramics, and mixed-media or collaborative projects. The award is open to artists who live and work in the United States.

Native American & First Nations Artist Award

(Salish Sea region)

The BRAVA Award for Native American & First Nations Artist supports the work of contemporary visual artists and craftspeople who self-identify as Native American and/or First Nations. The award is open to artists working in a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, weaving, textile, carving, printmaking, photography, video, performance art, beading, installation, pottery, and mixed media or collaborative projects. Artists may work in both contemporary and traditional styles and content. This award is open to any Native American & First Nations artist who lives and works in the Salish Sea region territories, including Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Whatcom, Clallam, Kitsap, Island, and San Juan Counties in the U.S. and Alberni-Clayouquot, Capital, Cariboo, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Metro Vancouver, Mount Waddington, Nanaimo, Powell River, Sunshine Coast, and Thompson-Nicola areas in Canada.

2025 Special Choice Award:

Children’s Book Illustrator Award

(Puget Sound region)

The BRAVA Award for Children’s Book Illustrator supports the work of contemporary visual artists from the Puget Sound region who specialize in children’s book illustration. Eligible work may include original illustrations created for books aimed at readers 16 years or younger. This can encompass book covers, interior illustrations, and complete book designs, including but not limited to graphic novels, e-books, interactive books, picture books, chapter books, works of fiction and non-fiction, zines, reference books, artist books, and pop-up books. The award is open to artists residing in the Puget Sound region, which includes Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Whatcom, Clallam, Kitsap, Island, and San Juan counties. The Special Choice Award may alternate each year to highlight different categories of artists.

THE AWARD

Each of the four BRAVA awardees will receive an unrestricted award of $15,000. In addition to the cash prize, the recipient of each award receives:

Recognition in BIMA media, including website, print and online publications, and social media, and provided a template press release to distribute to their media outlets;
Participation in an on-line or live event featuring the awardees;
A short video to be produced about the recipient;
Invitation to participate in an Award Ceremony, likely held at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art;
Invitation to serve as one of the jurors on the review panel of the next biennial award process.