2025 Abbey Mural Prize
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About the Abbey Mural Prize
Created in 1932 through an endowed bequest in honor of illustrator and muralist Edwin Austin Abbey NA, the Abbey Mural Prize awards grants to support the creation and restoration of public murals in the United States. Since 1940, the National Academy of Design has awarded funds to hundreds of individuals or organizations who are building on a tradition of public murals as instruments of social activism, neighborhood revitalization, and community engagement.
Juried by artist and architect members of the National Academy, the Abbey Mural Prize supports projects with grants typically ranging from $10,000 to $40,000. Grants are awarded to create or restore public murals, especially those that promote accessibility and serve local audiences. While murals are conventionally defined as paintings or mosaics on a wall, the prize also encourages proposals that broaden and expand the definition of what a contemporary mural can be.
About the National Academy of Design
The National Academy of Design promotes art and architecture in America through exhibition, education, and research.
Founded in 1825, the National Academy is the leading honorary society for visual artists and architects in the United States. We advocate for the arts as a tool for education, celebrate the role of artists and architects in public life, and serve as a catalyst for cultural conversations that propel society forward.
At the core of our mission are the National Academicians, a vibrant community of 450 artists and architects selected by their peers in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to art and architecture in America.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applications are open to all artists, architects, designers, as well as arts organizations, community-based organizations, and nonprofits.
- Projects must be for public buildings or buildings owned by a charitable institution.
- Project proposals must be for sites located within the United States, Tribal Nations, or U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Project Leads must be at least 18 years old.
Selection Criteria
Jury members will evaluate applications based on:
- Conceptual strength or compelling justification of impact as outlined in the proposal.
- Applicants' and/or Project Leads’ demonstrated ability to execute a high-quality end result.
- Feasibility of the project scope within the budget outlined in the application and appropriate use of Abbey Mural Prize funds; the jury reserves the right to award grantees full or partial funding.
- Connection or relationship to the community that will be impacted by the project
- Projects must have an intended start date before June 30, 2026.
Please check here for Frequently Asked Questions: Abbey Mural Prize FAQ
If you have additional questions not answered in the FAQ, please email abbeymural@nationalacademy.org
Application Instructions
- Applications must be uploaded through Submittable. Submit a detailed proposal describing the mural project, as well as the reason and rationale for applying for this award. Include images and renderings.
- Proposals that address potential community involvement in, or the impact on the community of your work will be prioritized.
- Include the intended start date for the mural project; only projects with intended start dates before June 30, 2026 will be considered.
- An itemized budget must be included. Please find a template below in the example application. The total project budget field is for the amount of funding requested from Abbey Mural along with any outside funding.