The Distinguished Artist Award recognizes established artists having a substantial body of work that display merit and excellence, as well as a history of contributions to their artistic field and the community. Prior winners of the Distinguished Artist Award have taught art classes, participated in shows or performances, and won awards for their work.

Applicants for the Distinguished Artist Award will be evaluated on their use of media, tools, design and composition of their submitted portfolio. The Commission will be looking to see if the artist has demonstrated a high level of skill and ability in the selected techniques for the pieces chosen for their submitted portfolio. Creativity and originality will also be observed and evaluated, including connection to the award program theme.

All applicants must include a written personal statement that includes goals, education, training, volunteerism, community involvement and any achievements or awards. 

Applicants can participate in any of the following artistic categories: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, or Digital Arts. 

There is a cash award of $1000 for the Distinguished Artist platinum winner (1st place). To receive funds, a completed W-9 will be requested.

How to Apply

• Who may apply: Artists must live in Cupertino or attend high school, college and/or art school physically located within Cupertino.
• Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, October 1 at 4:30 p.m.
• 2024 Online Applications are CLOSED

Online Application Requirements 

1. Submitted Application

2. Personal Statement (maximum 1 page)

3. One letter of endorsement and/or support, which includes relationship to artist.

4. Digital portfolio: (saved as PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG)

• *At least one piece in the portfolio must connect to the theme:

2024 Artist Awards Program Theme - “Building Sustainable Community”

• Artists submitting visual art can include up to three pieces that best represent the artists’ body of work. Performing artists’ may submit no more than five minutes worth of performances, film entries may submit no more than five minutes worth of film, and literary artists’ may submit no more than a total of five pages. Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated art is strictly prohibited. Submitting pieces from a previous Artist Awards submission is highly discouraged.

5. Resume and exhibition record (if any and maximum 2 pages)

Winners who receive cash awards must:

• Be willing to work with the Arts and Culture Commission to promote the arts in the community through participation in one or more events designed for that purpose.
• Acknowledge the recognition of the City of Cupertino on any printed advertising, programs or brochures they produce related to the award.

Questions? Please email artistawards@cupertino.gov.

The Emerging Artist Award was established to encourage and recognize demonstrations of artistic promise. This award recognizes younger artists as well as those rediscovering their love of artistic expression later in life. 

Applicants for the Emerging Artist Award will be evaluated on their use of media, tools and working materials. The Commission will also be looking for evidence of creative thought and originality in the artists’ submitted portfolio, including connection to the award program theme.

All applicants must include a written personal statement that includes goals, education, training, volunteerism, community involvement and any achievements or awards. 

Applicants can participate in any of the following artistic categories: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, or Digital Arts. 

There is a cash award of $750 for the Emerging Artist platinum winner (1st place). To receive funds, a completed W-9 will be requested.

How to Apply

• Who may apply: Artists must live in Cupertino or attend high school, college and/or art school physically located within Cupertino.
• Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, October 1 at 4:30 p.m.
•  2024 Online Applications are CLOSED

Online Application Requirements 

1. Submitted Application

2. Personal Statement (maximum 1 page)

3. One letter of endorsement and/or support, which includes relationship to artist.

4. Digital portfolio: (saved as PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG)

• *At least one piece in the portfolio must connect to the theme:

2024 Artist Awards Program Theme - “Building Sustainable Community”

• Artists submitting visual art can include up to three pieces that best represent the artists’ body of work. Performing artists’ may submit no more than five minutes worth of performances, film entries may submit no more than five minutes worth of film, and literary artists’ may submit no more than a total of five pages. Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated art is strictly prohibited. Submitting pieces from a previous Artist Awards submission is highly discouraged.

5. Resume and exhibition record (if any and maximum 2 pages)

Winners who receive cash awards must:

• Be willing to work with the Arts and Culture Commission to promote the arts in the community through participation in one or more events designed for that purpose.
• Acknowledge the recognition of the City of Cupertino on any printed advertising, programs or brochures they produce related to the award.

Questions? Please email artistawards@cupertino.gov.

Each year the Commission presents awards to deserving young artists in recognition of local achievements in the visual arts in the following age groups:

Group A:          6-10 years old

Group B:          11-14 years old

Awards:  Three awards (Platinum, Gold, and Silver) are given to each age group. Additionally, a cash prize of $150 is awarded to the Platinum winner. 

Rules:  

• All applicants must live in Cupertino or attend an educational institution or art school physically located within Cupertino. Only one entry per artist will be allowed. 
• Artwork must be completed by the young artists only – parents and teachers cannot assist or participate in the production of the art.
• Artwork that does not fit the contest theme and/or does not contest parameters will not be considered.
• Artists may use a medium of their choice including digitally created still art. Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated art is strictly prohibited. Original artwork may be requested at a later date for public display.
• Artwork and completed application must be submitted by Tuesday, October 1 at 4:30 p.m.

Evaluation Criteria:  The primary criteria for both age groups will be how effectively and/or creatively the applicant has communicated the contest theme. Evidence of originality as well as effective use of media and tools will also be considered.

2024 Artist Awards Program Theme - "Building Sustainable Community"

2024 Online Applications are CLOSED

Questions? Please email artistawards@cupertino.gov.

Young Artist, Ages 6 to 10

• 2022 – Platinum Award: Katy Wang / Gold Award: Samuel Jung / Silver Award: Pushya Dutt
• 2021 – Platinum Award: Ivy Ma / Gold Award: Sanvika Mishra / Silver Award: Audrey Lin 
• 2020 – Platinum Award: Minglang Li / Gold Award: Elsa You / Silver Award: Aparaajita Rajesh
• 2019 – Platinum Award: Sankrith Rao / Gold Award: Seowon Choi / Silver Award: Chaemin Lee and Novanshi Phadke / Honorable Mention: Anika Shendy
• 2018 – Platinum Award: Jonathan Tang / Gold Award: Chloe Lee / Silver Award: Eva Chuang

Young Artist, Ages 11 to 14

• 2022 – Platinum Award: Nikhil Krishnaswamy / Gold Award: Lillian Jones / Silver Award: Vianna Dong 
• 2021 – Platinum Award: Chloe Yoon / Gold Award: Nishanth Joshi / Silver Award: Sawa Ono
• 2020 – Platinum Award: Serene Kim / Gold Award: Abha Dash / Silver Award: Jessica Kwandou
• 2019 – Platinum Award: Ananya Dev / Gold Award: Bala Kiruthiga / Silver Award: Niketa Krishnan / Honorable Mention: Jayden Choi and Tanush Agrawal
• 2018 – Platinum Award: Shiva Ravinutala / Gold Award: Siona Madaddalkar / Silver Award: Sonali Patankar

Emerging Artist

• 2022 – Platinum Award: Apoorva Talwalkar / Gold Award: Chloe Zhong / Silver Award: Emily Chang
• 2021 – Platinum Award: Eric Yoon / Gold Award: Apoorva Talwalkar and Aarav Khunger
• 2020 – Platinum Award: Tanmayi Dasari / Gold Award: Rachael Ding / Silver Award: Alexandra Wong
• 2017 – Keith Millar, Sculptor
• 2013 – Connor Church, Painter
• 2012 – Emily Wang, Painter & Graphic Designer
• 2009 – Christina Jung, Painter

Distinguished Artist

• 2022 – Platinum Award, 1st Place: Elizabeth Bennett / Gold Award, 2nd Place: Brian Chow / Silver Award, 3rd Place: Eva Olsen
• 2021 – Kalpana Adesara
• 2020 – Geeta Taneja
• 2017 – May Shei, Chinese Traditional and Contemporary Art, Artist, Teacher
• 2016 – Harish Agastya, Performing Arts – Actor/Director
• 2015 – Lois Kershner, Fiber Artist – Embroidery
• 2013 – Mina Chyou, Visual Arts – Chinese Painting
• 2012 – Carrie Zeidman – Digital Arts
• 2011 – Consuelo Jimenez Underwood – Fiber/Textile Artist
• 2010 – Pantea Karimi – Painter, Printmaker
• 2009 – Iona Ezaki – Painter
• 2008 – Floy Zittin – Watercolor Painter
• 2007 – Charlotte Kruk – Artist, Sculptor
• 2006 – Corinne Okada Takara – Artist, Sculptor
• 2005 – Janet Leong Malan – Artist, Fashion Designer
• 2004 – Kate Curry – Painter, Artist
• 2003 – Constance Guidotti – Photographer Artist
• 2002 – Mahoko Dahte – Teacher of Flower Arranging, Ceramic Sculpture, and Handmade Japanese tea utensils using traditional methods
• 2000 – Robert L. Harrison, Performing Arts – Singer, Composer
• 1999 – Ann Stamm Merrell; Visual Arts – Quilts / Performing Arts – Musician, Composer, Arranger
• 1998 – Makiko Ooka, Performing Arts – Pianist
• 1997 – Sara Loesch Frank, Visual Arts – Drawing, Painting, Calligraphy
• 1996 – Brother Joseph Aspell, S.M., Visual Arts – Sculptor, Painter, Art Instructor
• 1995 – Fusako Seiga Hoyrup, Performing Arts – Ichebana Flower Arranging
• 1994 – Janet Shaw, Performing Arts – Janlyn Dance Company, Dancer
• 1993 – Sandra Beard, Visual Arts – Painter
• 1992 – Mythili Kumar, Performing Arts – Dance, Instruction
• 1990 – Ms. Glen Rogers Perrotto, Visual Arts – Printmaker
• 1988 – Nile P. Norton and Salvatore Pecoraro, Music – Musician, Conductor