How is the Prize Awarded?
Each year deCordova invites art professionals from around the country—museum directors, curators, other artists, and past winners—to nominate artists for the prize based on set criteria. Each nominee must:
- Produce artwork of exceptional quality
- Demonstrate excellence and leadership in their chosen practice
- Engage with aesthetic issues which have had a significant impact on contemporary art
- Have a relationship to New England—whether they were born, educated, resided, or currently reside in the region.
All media are considered and the Museum does not discriminate based on age, financial status, reputation, race, sexual orientation, or gender. After reviewing the nominations, as well as suggesting their own nominations, deCordova’s curators and Director meet with an outside jury to select the Prize winner. Each year, deCordova invites new jury members who have significant knowledge of New England’s art scene to assist in the selection process.
Applications or unsolicited nominations are not accepted for the Prize. The Rappaport Foundation does not influence the decision-making process.
