UCSD - University of California - San Diego

10/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2026 16:23

Inaugural ArtsConnect Prize Launches at the University of California San Diego

Published Date

October 01, 2026

Article Content

The ArtsConnect Prize, a new biennial award open to artists across the San Diego-Tijuana region, has launched at the University of California San Diego. The $20,000 prize supports the development of an ambitious new work that exemplifies the role of the arts as a means of connection. The project will culminate in a weeklong residency and public presentation at the university in October 2027.

UC San Diego has long been a place where artists challenge conventions and employ creativity as a catalyst for innovation. "Our university has a legacy of artists and creators who experiment, cross boundaries and ask bold questions," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "The ArtsConnect Prize extends that energy beyond the university, inviting artists from our region to engage with our creative community and imagine work that could only emerge through this kind of exchange."

The prize is a signature program of UC San Diego's ArtsConnect, which brings together artists, students and communities while expanding opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. UC San Diego's arts ecosystem extends across academic departments, internationally recognized collections, galleries and performance venues, as well as programs that connect visiting artists into conversation with students and the wider community.

"Some of the most exciting ideas emerge when artists bring different disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing into conversation," said Cristina Della Coletta, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and co-lead of ArtsConnect. "Through the ArtsConnect Prize, we hope to inspire work that celebrates our shared histories and cultural traditions while drawing on interdisciplinary exchange to imagine new possibilities for the future."

The $20,000 unrestricted prize supports the creation of a new work that encourages interaction and sparks dialogue. Up to $10,000 in university support will be provided for project production, in addition to campus housing during the week of the residency. Artists will partner with UC San Diego faculty and staff to bring their work to life in one of the university's art and performance spaces, such as the Epstein Family Amphitheater, Conrad Prebys Music Concert Hall or Visual Arts Main Gallery. Projects also may be developed in outdoor spaces across the 1,200-acre campus.

UC San Diego's arts ecosystem extends across academic departments, internationally recognized collections, galleries and performance venues, as well as programs that connect visiting artists into conversation with students and the wider community. Photos by Erik Jepsen/University Communications.

"The arts have an extraordinary ability to inspire dialogue, cultivate joy and promote well-being," said Alysson Satterlund, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life and co-lead of ArtsConnect. "Through this prize, we are creating new opportunities for our students, artists and community members to learn from one another, participate in the creative process and experience the university as a place of connection and discovery."

The ArtsConnect Prize is open to San Diego-Tijuana based emerging and established artists working in all disciplines. Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience and may apply individually or as a collective of up to three people. UC San Diego alumni who graduated at least five years ago are eligible; current UC San Diego faculty, staff and graduate students are not eligible.

Artists are encouraged to submit projects that demonstrate exceptional artistic excellence and interdisciplinary thinking while inspiring connection and community engagement. The final project will be presented during a week-long residency October 18-24, 2027, where artists will lead a workshop or conversation about their work.

The ArtsConnect Prize will follow a two-phase application process. Artists are asked to first submit a brief Letter of Intent outlining their proposed project, artistic practice and connection to the goals of the prize. A select group will then be invited to develop full proposals.

Key dates

  • October 1, 2026: Letter of Inquiry submission opens
  • December 18, 2026: Letter of Inquiry submission ends
  • February 1, 2027: Finalists invited to submit a full project proposal
  • March 19, 2027: Full project proposals due
  • May 2027: Prize recipient announced
  • May - September 2027: Project development period
  • October 18-24, 2027: Residency and public presentation

Learn more about the ArtsConnect Prize.

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