FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Conru Art Foundation Establishes The Seattle Prize Masters Fellowship,
Relocates The Masters Academy of Art to Seattle
SEATTLE, Wash. – January 30, 2025 – The Conru Art Foundation today announced theSeattle Prize Masters Fellowship, a new two-year immersive educational program to cultivate early-career artists dedicated to classical, representational painting. TheSeattle Prize comprises a $50,000 annual stipend, free studio space in Seattle’s historicPioneer Square, expert mentorship and a program to support their professional success.
The Seattle Prize is the centerpiece of a broader initiative around arts education featuring the relocation of The Masters Academy of Art to Seattle and the appointment of its founder, internationally renowned 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.
“We believe great representational art should engage with the entirety of the human experience - our joys and triumphs, as well as our struggles and sorrows,” said Brown, who created the Academy in 2008 in Utah. “In a world where so many people feel isolated, we need artists who can create paintings that empathize and connect with people in a manner that provides solace and invites contemplation.” “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,”added Brown. “We’re excited to join and contribute to the arts community in Seattle.”
Seattle Prize Highlights:
- Generous Stipend: Fellows will receive a $50,000 annual stipend, enabling them to focus entirely on their artistic development without financial constraints.
- Historic Studio Space: Participants will work in personal studios located within a 19th-century building in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square, fostering creativity and collaboration.
- Expert Mentorship: Weekly in-studio critiques from faculty and remote guidance from world-class artists will challenge fellows to push their boundaries and achieve their best work.
- Comprehensive Support: The Masters Academy is developing an ecosystem to include an onsite gallery, a dedicated film and promotion team, and a growing community of patrons, offering fellows the resources needed to share their artistic journey with the world.
Seattle Prize Application Details:
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 representationalpainters who demonstrate technical proficiency and a commitment to the classicaltradition are encouraged to apply. Selected fellows will begin their residency in October2025, with a goal of an initial class of between five and ten artists. For more information on the fellowship and application process, please visit https://seattleprize.org/.
About The Masters Academy of Art
The Masters Academy of Art is dedicated to preserving and advancing the classical tradition of representational painting. By providing comprehensive training, resources, and professional opportunities, the Academy aims to foster a new generation of artists who create works that acknowledge the vast array of human experience and bring immediate relatability, understanding and connection to viewers. For more information, please visit www.mastersacademyofart.com.
About the Conru Art Foundation
The Conru Art foundation seeks to nurture creativity, support local artists, and makeSeattle a beacon for the arts. For more information, visit www.conruartfoundation.org.
Contact:
Kevin Kutz [email protected]
