The Vilcek Foundation, founded in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek- immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia, is now accepting applications for the 2018 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise. The prizes are awarded annually to emerging immigrant professionals in biomedical science and the arts and humanities, this year recognizing the field of architecture and building arts. Three winners will be selected in each category, each receiving an unrestricted cash award of $50,000.

The Vilcek Foundation will award three prizes of $50,000 each to young architects and building professionals who demonstrate extraordinary talent, dedication, and potential to advance the field of architecture. The prizes are meant to facilitate future discovery and impact for promising architects and building arts professionals at a critical stage in their careers.

The Vilcek Foundation Headquarters in New York City. Image courtesy of the Vilcek Foundation

In the field of architecture, professionals working in a broad spectrum of categories—including architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, and architecture criticism—are invited to apply. Eligible applicants will have been born outside of the United States; be 38 years of age or younger; and hold a professional degree in architecture or in a field related to the built environment (license not required).

Candidates will be asked to submit an application form, curriculum vitae, work samples, three short personal essays, and proof of immigration status. The application process is entirely online, and applications will be accepted from April 3 through May 31, 2017. The application and full eligibility requirements are available at Vilcek.org.

Jan Vilcek, President and Co-founder and Marica Vilcek, Vice President and Co-founder of the Vilcek Foundation. Image courtesy of the Vilcek Foundation

Eligible applicants are professionals working in fields related to the built environment, including: Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Engineering (e.g., sustainable or integrated design) and Architecture Criticism.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Architecture, applicants must meet all of the criteria listed below:

1. Applicant must have been born outside the United States.

2. Applicant must not be more than 38 years old as of December 31, 2017 (born on or after January 1, 1979).

3. Applicant must:

• be a naturalized citizen of the United States;
• or be a permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States;
• or be a holder of an H1B or O-1 visa and have been living and working in the United States for at least 5 years;
• or have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

4. Applicant must hold a professional degree in architecture or in a field related to the built environment (license not required).

5. Applicant must intend to pursue a professional career in the United States.

6. Applicant must not be enrolled as a full-time student.

7. Applicant must not be a past winner of the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise.

Selection process

A panel of distinguished members of the architecture community will evaluate applications based on its quality, level of creativity, clarity of vision, and impact. The submitted work samples should show curiosity, originality, technical excellence, and potential for longevity within the field. The individuals chosen will have demonstrated commitment to their chosen field.

The prizewinners selected by the jury will be the candidates whose work best exemplifies the characteristics outlined above. Recommendations of the jury will be submitted to the Vilcek Foundation’s Board of Directors for final approval. The winners of the Creative Promise Prize in Architecture will be notified by November 2017 and will be invited to attend the Vilcek Foundation’s annual awards ceremony in New York City, in the spring of 2018. Travel expenses and accommodations will be covered by the foundation.

Online applications

Applications are submitted through the website. If you have not applied to the prizes in previous years, please click here to create an account and begin a new application.

The Vilcek Foundation is dedicated to honoring the contributions of foreign-born artists, scientists, and scholars to American society. In addition to bestowing the Creative Promise Prizes, the foundation also awards the prestigious $100,000 Vilcek Prize; launched in 2006, the Vilcek Prizes celebrate the lifetime achievements of leading figures in a wide array of fields within biomedical science and the arts, including theatre, dance, film, music, fashion, and visual arts. 

Since launching the prizes, the foundation has awarded over $3.5 million to 97 individuals from 45 different countries, including China, Colombia, Iran, Jordan, Ghana, Peru, and Turkey.

Top image courtesy of the Vilcek Foundation

> via Vilcek Foundation