the brava awards 2025

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Native American & First Nations Artist Award

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

Artists' Books Award

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.

Emerging Artist Award

This award supports the work of contemporary visual artists and craftspeople from the Puget Sound region who are at an early stage of their professional career. The BRAVA Award for Emerging Artist is focused on artists who have seen early recognition of their visual arts practice, are serious about their pursuit of a career in visual arts, and whose work is deemed promising by a jury. The BRAVA Award for Emerging Artist is open to artists working in media including but not limited to fiber/textile, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, performance art, installation, ceramics, and mixed-media or collaborative projects.

2025 Special Choice Award: Children’s Book

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

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 bi-annual award process.