The 2026 Neddy Artist Award application is open from November 14, 2025 through January 9, 2026.
In honor of our 30th Anniversary, we are now offering two grand prize awards of $30,000 each and six finalist awards of $3,000 each, annually.
Cornish College of the Arts prepares its students to contribute to society as artists, citizens and innovators. The Neddy Artist Award program is a beacon of this mission. The Neddy Artist Award is one of the most generous and longest-running awards for visual artists in the State of Washington, now providing two grand prize awards of $30,000 and six finalist awards of $3,000, to visual artists based in the Puget Sound region.
Any artist who is a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident living and working in Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, San Juan, Snohomish, Thurston, or Whatcom counties in Washington state is welcome to apply. Restrictions apply -- head to our website and scroll down to the Application Guidelines section for more information on eligibility and award process.
The call for applications for the 2026 Neddy program year is open from November 14, 2025 to January 9, 2026. The application closes at 11:59pm PST on January 9, 2026.
Have questions or want to join our email list? Send us an email at neddyinfo@seattleu.edu
Featured artwork by Lauren Boilini (2025 Neddy Painting Finalist), “Celestial Navigation”, 2023.
The Neddy Artist Award
Cornish College of the Arts prepares its students to contribute to society as artists, citizens and innovators. The Neddy Artist Award program is a beacon of this mission. The Neddy offers some of the largest artist awards in the State of Washington, providing two grand prize awards of $30,000 each and six finalist awards of $3,000, to visual artists based in the Puget Sound region. Any artist who is a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident living and working in Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, San Juan, Snohomish, Thurston, or Whatcom counties in Washington state is welcome to apply.
The call for applications for the 2024 Neddy program year is open from November 14, 2025 - January 9, 2026. The application closes at 11:59pm PST on January 9, 2026. Visit our website and scroll down to the Application Guidelines section for more information on eligibility and award processes.
To be eligible as a finalist for the award, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements stated on our website, and be available for the following events.:
- Studio Visit and Filmed Interview in February 2026
- Studio Visit with our National Juror in the window of April 2-7, 2026
- Drop off of artwork mid May 2026 at the Behnke Family Gallery (1077 Lenora St. Seattle, WA 98121)
- Pick up of artwork mid September 2026
The Neddy Artist Award program aims to support all artists in the greater Puget Sound region. It is important to us to make sure that we are sharing our award with a broad spectrum of artists and creatives.
Please complete this optional survey to help us learn more about how we can better support our community!
Please note: This information provided in this survey will not be included in your Neddy application, will not be linked to your application, and will not be used to influence or determine application standing or acceptance. Your answers will not be shared publicly or with those associated with determining outcome of the award in any way.
Completion of the application is not contingent upon completion of this survey.