Forward Art Prize

The Forward Art Prize is an annual award initiative presented by the Women Artists Forward Fund, based in Madison, Wisconsin. This program honors two women-identifying visual artists residing in Dane County, Wisconsin, with unrestricted awards of $10,000 each. The prize aims to empower individual artists by supporting their creative, intellectual, and professional pursuits without the constraints of specific project requirements. The selection process is competitive and juried, taking place each summer, and focuses on identifying artists with a strong history of creative excellence and potential for impactful contributions to the community through their work. This prize emphasizes the value of individual creativity as a cornerstone of societal change. It is open to both established and emerging artists whose work challenges conventions, proposes new paradigms, or enhances community engagement through visual art. Applicants must demonstrate deep engagement in their artistic practices and a history of work that fosters innovation and broadens imaginative boundaries. Collaborative groups of up to four women-identifying artists may apply, provided they are not formal organizations or 501(c)(3) entities, and one member acts as the primary contact and fiscal agent. Eligible applicants must currently reside in Dane County and have done so for at least one year prior to applying. They must also remain residents at the time of the award announcement in fall 2025. Applicants must identify as women, be at least 18 years old by November 1, 2025, and be U.S. residents. They must not be enrolled as students at the time the award is given and cannot have received prior arts funding of $10,000 or more from a single source in 2022, 2023, or through June 2024. Applications opened on May 1, 2025, and are due by midnight CDT on June 15, 2025. Two in-person support sessions for applicants are scheduled: one on May 12 at the Hawthorne Public Library and another on June 4 at the Goodman Public Library, with assistance provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Questions about the application process must be submitted to [email protected] by June 10. Applicants are evaluated based on the strength and originality of their current work, the content of their artist statement, and the depth of their professional resume. Visual arts practices considered for this award include drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, installation, printmaking, social practice, video, mixed media, performance art, glass, fiber, wood, metal, and clay. Supporting resources are available through recommended websites for writing artist statements and photographing artwork, as well as local photographers in the Madison area.