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Don Tyson Prize

Crystal Bridges will close early at 4 PM on Friday, May 3, to prepare for the VIP Premiere of The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel. Lunch will be served in the Great Hall on Friday. The Coffee Bar and select galleries will close at 3 PM.

About the Don Tyson Prize

The Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art was established in honor of the late Don Tyson, former chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. The prize, which carries a $200,000 cash award, is open to living individuals or institutions working in any medium and located in the United States. It recognizes those who have changed the way we look at, think about, or experience art and impacted the field through innovation, outside-the-box thinking, and risk taking. In doing so, the recipients have raised awareness, challenged preconceived notions, removed barriers, and ultimately increased accessibility.

“My father, for whom the prize is named, was a believer in education, American history, and the American spirit,” said John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods. “This type of accolade for the work being done to advance American art would have been very meaningful to him.”

Past winners include the Archives of American Art (2016), artist Vanessa German (2018), and community organization Project Row Houses (2020). Winning organizations/individuals are those who can demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • Changed the way we look at, think about, or experience art
  • Increased access to art in their community
  • Broadened the reach of art through inclusivity
  • Impacted the field through innovation and risk-taking
  • Navigated current issues in creative and inspiring ways

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