Student Creative Artist Award Program 2026
Sonoma's Cultural and Fine Arts Commission seeks student entries for annual award program supporting high school artists with up to $5,000 in funding.
The Student Creative Artist Award Program is an annual opportunity for artistic youth in Sonoma to receive recognition and financial support for their creative work. Presented by the city's Cultural and Fine Arts Commission, this prestigious program has been supporting student artists since 1988, awarding more than $63,000 to over 83 student artists to date.
The program recognizes outstanding high school juniors and seniors who reside within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and demonstrate excellence in visual, literary, or performing arts. Winners receive up to $5,000 each year to further their creative growth and artistic development.
Eligible students can submit entries across multiple disciplines including visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, video, theater, and other creative mediums. Each student may submit one entry per discipline, and all submissions must be original work. Collaborative pieces are accepted but must be clearly indicated with a description of each student's individual role.
The application requires an online submission including work samples appropriate to the discipline and a 250-500 word Artist Statement describing the student's creative journey and artistic vision. The judging process is comprehensive, with the CFAC reviewing submissions using detailed rubrics and established criteria. Selected finalists will be invited for in-person interviews to discuss their work and artistic development.
Recent 2025 winners included Teagan Rhodes for Video, Margaret Brown for Visual Arts (both from Sonoma Valley High School), and Tallulah Kimball for Theater (from Sonoma Academy). Past recipients and detailed judging criteria are available on the city's website for reference.