Bonfils-Stanton Foundation is proud to present the 2026 Social Impact Artist Award. The award honors and supports the outstanding contributions of two (2) Denver-based artists or artist collectives championing positive impact and social justice through their artistic practice with a $35,000 award and $15,000 socially engaged project grant. 

Program Goals:

• Support individual artists or artist collectives in Denver who are actively engaged in addressing social issues through their creative practice.
• Showcase the impact of socially engaged art in promoting discourse, celebrating Denver’s rich cultural heritage, and fostering partnerships that help communities thrive.
• Prioritize and amplify the perspectives and experiences of artists and culture bearers from historically marginalized communities.
• Elevate the profile of Denver as a center for socially conscious artistic expression and innovation.
• Encourage and provide project funding for artists to explore ways for the community to participate in, respond to, inform, and learn from their work. 

Eligibility:

• At least 21 years old.
• Live and/or work primarily in Denver.
• At least 5 years experience creating original work in at least one artistic discipline (e.g., dance, music, theatre, visual arts, design, crafts, film & media arts, literature, folk & traditional arts) in Denver.
• Have a deep commitment to social justice and community engagement through their artistic practice.
• Artists collectives have a track record of working collaboratively on new work and are committed to completing the socially engaged project associated with the award. 

 Ineligible applicants include:

• Past honorees of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s award program
• Employees of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, a Trustee of the Foundation, or a relative or partner of any employee or Trustee of the Foundation.
• 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally-sponsored organizations

Awardee Selection Criteria:

• Artistic Vision - Artists who channel their skills, aesthetic styles, perspectives, lived experience and creativity into developing a practice that invites others to imagine a more just and inclusive Denver.
• Social Impact - The extent to which the artist's practice addresses social issues and contributes to positive change within the community.
• Community Engagement & Connection - Evidence of meaningful collaboration with community members or organizations in the development and execution of artistic projects. Artists who share a deep connection to and understanding of the Denver area and historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latino/x, Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, Pacific Islander, People of Color, LGBTQ+, disability, and other underrepresented groups.
• Project Potential & Feasibility - The feasibility and potential impact of the proposed artistic project will be assessed.

Timeline

• February 17, 2026 - Applications open
• March 20, 2026 - Applications close at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time
• March-May 2026 - Eligibility check and panel review
• Late May 2026 - Applicant notification
• Mid-June 2026 - Community celebration with awardees