Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards 2026

Our program awards unrestricted grants of $7500.  We identify an emerging artist as one in the early stages of a professional art-related career; one who is developing an artistic "voice" and is in the process of establishing a foothold in the professional arena. 

Applications will be accepted until June 30th, 2026, 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Applicants do not need to reside in Santa Clara County, as long as their work meaningfully engages or benefits residents of Santa Clara County.  Artists must be at least 18 years old and working in the art form declared on the application.

Winners are required to participate in the Awards Program to be held on Oct. 21st at the Hammer Theater in downtown San Jose.

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Applicants do not need to reside in Santa Clara County, as long as their work meaningfully engages or benefits residents of Santa Clara County.  Artists must be at least 18 years old and working in the art form declared on the application.

Applications are open and will be accepted until June 30th, 2026, 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Winners are required to participate in the Awards Program to be held  on Oct. 21st at the Hammer Theater in downtown San Jose.

1.    Applicants do not need to reside in Santa Clara County, as long as their work meaningfully engages or benefits residents of Santa Clara County.  Artists must be at least 18 years old and working in the art form declared on the application.

2.    Submissions without work samples will not be reviewed. 

3.    Performance artists must submit video files and/or links to videos.  We will not evaluate an application from a performance artist based exclusively on still photos and/or audio files.  Links to work samples on external websites must not exceed five minutes in duration.

4.    Literary submissions are limited to poetry, prose, spoken word performance, and stage or screenplays (10 page limit).

5.    To help us evaluate your submission, use the application “Info” field for each work sample.  More detailed guidelines re: labeling of artwork, role in performance (i.e.: the composer, performer, choreographer, dancer, etc.)

6.    Winners are required to participate in the Awards Program to be held on Oct. 21st at the Hammer Theater in downtown San Jose.

Applicants do not need to reside in Santa Clara County, as long as their work meaningfully engages or benefits residents of Santa Clara County.   Artists must be at least 18 years old and working in the art form declared on the application.

We identify an emerging artists as one in the early stages of a professional art-related career; one who is developing an artistic "voice" and is in the process of establishing a foothold in the professional arena.