Organizer Information
The Kristen T. Ramirez Fellowship for Latine Printmakers is administered by Seattle Print Arts (SPA), a professional arts organization based in Seattle dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for printmakers and the broader printmaking community in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Print Arts functions as both a membership-based network and a public-facing cultural platform, offering exhibitions, talks, professional development opportunities, and funding initiatives that strengthen the visibility and sustainability of printmaking practices.
This fellowship specifically honors the legacy of Kristen T. Ramirez, an influential artist, educator, arts administrator, and community activist whose practice emphasized printmaking as a democratic and socially engaged medium. The program reflects her belief in the accessibility of printed images as tools for communication and public discourse. By supporting Latine artists, the fellowship also responds to a critical need for increased representation and structural support for Latine voices within the regional and broader printmaking field.
Seattle Print Arts collaborates with panels of arts professionals to ensure a juried, merit-based selection process that prioritizes artistic intent, conceptual clarity, and the strength of submitted work.
Title & Description
Kristen T Ramirez Latine Printmakers Fellowship
The Kristen T. Ramirez Fellowship for Latine Printmakers is a $3,000 production-based fellowship designed to support Latine printmakers residing in the Pacific Northwest. The award is intended either to fund the creation of new work or to support an ongoing printmaking project.
The fellowship is grounded in the idea of printmaking as a “democratic medium,” as expressed by Kristen T. Ramirez, where multiple impressions of an image allow ideas to circulate widely and reach public audiences. The program emphasizes artistic persistence, process-driven work, and the financial realities of sustaining a studio practice.
Selected artists will receive funding in two installments and are expected to engage with the Seattle Print Arts community through a public presentation. This may take place at the organization’s Annual Meeting in Seattle, or—if in-person attendance is not possible—through a recorded presentation submitted in advance. In addition to financial support, recipients gain a one-year membership in Seattle Print Arts, providing access to a professional network of printmakers, curators, and arts professionals.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Printmaking
- Contemporary Art
- Mixed Media (if print-based)
- Experimental Print Practices
- Graphic Arts
Eligibility
- Open to Latine artists
- Applicants must reside in the Pacific Northwest (USA region)
- Emerging, mid-career, and established artists may apply
- Individual artists or artist teams are eligible
- Current members of the Seattle Print Arts Board are not eligible
- International applicants are not eligible unless they meet residency requirements
Program Benefits & Awards
- $3,000 total fellowship stipend
- $1,500 awarded upon selection
- $1,500 awarded after completion of required public presentation (within one year)
- Support for producing new print-based work or developing an ongoing project
- One-year membership in Seattle Print Arts
- Public presentation opportunity at SPA Annual Meeting (or via recorded talk)
- Professional visibility within a juried selection process by arts professionals
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit materials in two separate PDF files:
PDF #1 — Text Documents
- Biography (max 300 words) — serves as CV/resume alternative
- Artist Statement (max 300 words) — description of artistic practice
- Letter of Intent (max 300 words) — project proposal and explanation of how the fellowship will support artistic goals
PDF #2 — Images
- 5–10 images of recent or relevant work
- Each image must include:
- Title
- Medium
- Dimensions
- Year completed
- All information must appear clearly on the same page as each image
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email to: submissions@seattleprintarts.org
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 5 July 2026
- Award Announcement: 2 August 2026
Location
Seattle, Washington, United States
Additional Details
- The fellowship is explicitly inspired by Kristen T. Ramirez’s philosophy of printmaking as a socially engaged, accessible medium.
- The selection process is juried by a panel of arts professionals, with emphasis on artistic intent and portfolio strength.
- The fellowship not only provides funding but also expects recipients to contribute to community dialogue through a public-facing presentation.
- Flexibility is offered for artists unable to travel, allowing a recorded talk as an alternative to in-person participation.
- Funding is structured in two phases, linking part of the award to completion of the public engagement component.