The Seattle Metals Guild Grants Program supports artists in developing new work while creating opportunities for shared learning, conversation, and connection within the Guild community.

Beginning in 2026, the Guild is transitioning to a more flexible project-based format open to artists across career stages. Rather than focusing solely on past achievements, the program centers on a proposed project — whether that’s new work, research, experimentation, or a way of sharing knowledge with others.

Projects may range from focused material explorations and research to larger bodies of work, installations, educational initiatives, or community-centered projects. The program is intended to support projects that are ambitious but achievable at a variety of scales.

Selected recipients receive funding along with the opportunity to engage fellow Guild members through a lightweight public-facing component such as a talk, workshop, studio tour, demonstration, or other shared learning experience.

Project Grants are intended to support artistic growth while strengthening the Guild through programming, storytelling, and community connection. We encourage artists at all career stages to apply.

Examples of supported activities may include:

• creation of new work

• research and experimentation

• equipment or studio development

• exhibitions or installations

• documentation

• travel or study

• collaborative or community-centered projects

Recipients will also contribute one public-facing Guild program connected to their project, such as an in-person or online:

• artist talk

• workshop or demonstration

• studio tour

• exhibition walkthrough

• process presentation

• recorded interview

• written reflection

Please see below for eligibility, application requirements, and selection criteria.

2026 Seattle Metals Guild Project Grant

Application Timeline

Applications Open: Summer 2026
Deadline: August 31st, 2026
Panel Review: Fall 2026
Recipient Notifications: Fall 2026
Public Announcement: At the 2026 Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium, October 2026

Award

• $1,250–$2,500 in project funding

• Complimentary registration to attend the 2026 Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium

• An opportunity to share work through a Guild program or event

• Features in Guild communications, including newsletter, website, and social media

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a current member of the Seattle Metals Guild

• Be a resident of Washington State

• Be a jewelry, metals, or materially-adjacent artist working at any career stage

Applicants must not:

• Be a current member of the Seattle Metals Guild Board of Directors

• Be a current juror for the program year

• Have an unresolved prior fellowship or grant obligation with SMG

Application Materials

Applicants will be asked to submit:

• Documentation of relevant work (5–10 images)

• A project proposal describing the intended work and goals

• A brief engagement plan describing the proposed public-facing contribution

• A project budget and intended use of funds

• Resume/CV

• Artist statement

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Artistic strength and clarity of vision

• Quality and feasibility of the proposed project

• Potential impact of funding on artistic development

• Thoughtfulness of the engagement component

• Alignment with the Guild’s mission of shared learning and community connection

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by a rotating panel of independent arts professionals representing varied perspectives within the field, such as artists, educators, writers, curators, gallerists and nonprofit arts professionals.

Strong applications clearly articulate:

• a focused project or area of investigation

• why this work matters now

• how funding would meaningfully support development

• and how the proposed engagement component connects to the Guild community.

Jurors review applications independently before participating in a group discussion to select recipients.

Jurors with conflicts of interest must abstain from reviewing affected applications.

Program Structure

Recipients receive partial funding upon award, with final payment distributed upon completion of agreed project deliverables and public-facing contributions.

The program is designed to balance flexibility with accountability while keeping expectations achievable and artist-centered.

Why this program exists

The Seattle Metals Guild believes that artists strengthen community not only through the work they create, but through the knowledge, experiences, and conversations they share.

The Project Grant is intended to support artists while also creating opportunities for members to gather, learn, connect, and engage more deeply with one another’s practices.