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.