The Conru Art Foundation has launched the Seattle Prize Masters Fellowship, a new two-year immersive educational program to cultivate early-career artists dedicated to classical, representational painting. The Seattle Prize includes a $50,000 annual stipend, free studio space in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square, expert mentorship, and a program to support their professional success.
The prize is the centerpiece of the foundation’s broader initiative around arts education in Seattle, Washington, which includes the Masters Academy of Art’s relocation to Seattle and the appointment of its founder, artist and educator Ryan Brown, as its first director.
Under Brown’s leadership, the academy will administer the Seattle Prize and build new capacity for education, advocacy, and support for representational art.
“With its vibrant arts culture, global outlook, and heritage of embracing diverse perspectives and people, Seattle is the perfect home for the Masters Academy of Art,” said Brown, who founded the academy in 2008 in Utah. “We’re excited to join the arts community in Seattle.”
Seattle Prize Highlights
- Generous Stipend: A $50,000 annual stipend, to allow focus on artistic development.
- Historic Studio Space: Personal studios located in a 19th-century building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square.
- Expert Mentorship: Weekly in-studio critiques from faculty and remote guidance from world-class artists.
- Comprehensive Support: The Masters Academy is developing an ecosystem to include an onsite gallery, marketing and communications, and a growing community of patrons.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2025-2026 Seattle Prize Masters Fellowship are available to the general public and must be submitted by March 15, 2025. Early-career representational painters who demonstrate technical proficiency and a commitment to the classical tradition are encouraged to apply. Selected fellows will begin their residency in October 2025, with an initial class of six to 10 artists.
For more information, please visit seattleprize.org.
