Seattle Art Prize
Get paid to paint for a full year. $50K–$80K stipend, your own studio at the Occidental Fine Arts Center, and a cohort of serious painters dedicated to creating meaningful work.
Share with artistsSeason Two: Applications Open
Inside the Studios
The Seattle Prize gives talented painters the rarest creative resource: uninterrupted time. A full year of studio space, mentorship, and a cohort of peers — all focused on creating ambitious work grounded in beauty and truth.
A program of the Conru Art Foundation at the Occidental Fine Arts Center, Pioneer Square, Seattle
Meet the Fellows
Meet the Team
The Instigator
Andrew Conru
From a small Indiana farm to a Stanford PhD, Andrew became an internet pioneer focused on human connection. Through the Conru Art Foundation, he believes in art's power to heal and unite.
Through the Conru Art Foundation, he applies his inventive, service-oriented mindset to address societal needs for deeper meaning. An amateur artist himself, the Seattle Prize is his "experiment with love" to nurture artists and explore art's potential to enrich lives.
Artistic Facilitator
Tenaya Sims
Tenaya Sims blends high-level creative industry experience with deep immersion in classical art traditions. Founder of the Georgetown Atelier and ARC Salon Best in Show winner.
With experience at Crystal Dynamics and Activision, apprenticeship with Juliette Aristides, and exhibitions at Salmagundi Club and MEAM Barcelona, he possesses intimate knowledge of both ambitious art creation and the Seattle art landscape. Tenaya isn't just overseeing the program — he's managing day-to-day operations while also undertaking a significant commission as a participating fellow.