Jack Straw Artist Support Program 2025

Please contact us at arts@jackstraw.org or 206-634-0919 if this application format is not accessible to you for any reason.

Jack Straw Cultural Center is now accepting applications for the 32nd year of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program, which helps artists of many genres and disciplines to create and present new work. Up to eight artists/teams are awarded 20 hours of free recording and production time with an engineer at Jack Straw Cultural Center; an additional 10-12 artists/teams receive matching awards. The Artist Support Program is open to artists of all disciplines whose project proposals include sound as a major component. Such projects might include recording a music album, producing radio programs, oral histories, audio literature, sound for a gallery installation or public art project, film, music and sound design for dance and theater, digital media work, etc. Completed projects are publicly presented at a Jack Straw artist event. 

Selection Process:
Artist Support Program applications are evaluated and awarded by a multidisciplinary selection panel. The panelists change each year, and are all established artists and arts professionals invited by Jack Straw staff. The names of the panelists will be made public after the selection process has been completed. All applicants will be notified of the results in writing. Please allow at least twelve weeks after deadline dates for the review and notification process to be completed.

Selection Criteria:
The process can be highly competitive depending on the number and range of applications. Panelists will base their selections upon the excellence of the work represented in the support materials provided by the applicant; the artistic merit of the proposed project; the feasibility of the proposed project; and the subjective response of the panelists to the applicant’s proposal/work in comparison to the other submissions received.

Covid-19 Advisory
Our studios are currently operating at close to pre-pandemic capacity. However, given the overall uncertainty around the pandemic's progress, we may need to impose more restrictions in the future.

For artists located outside of the area who are unable to travel the Jack Straw, we may still be able to work with you, as long as your physical presence is not required in the studio. We are able to work with artists remotely for recording, editing, mixing, and training, with the lead artist providing direction remotely as needed.

QUESTIONS? Please carefully read the Frequently Asked Questions on our website.