The Genius Awards Are Back!
The Stranger has championed local artists and arts organizations since we began publishing in 1991.
In 2003, we went next level with the Genius Awards, a bold initiative combining the prestige of a MacArthur Fellowship with the unbridled joy of winning a lottery.
Over 70 individuals and cultural institutions have received Genius Awards over the last 20 years. By recognizing and rewarding these exceptional badasses, The Stranger aims to foster a thriving arts community and help retain the best of Seattle's cultural talent.
After a break, the Genius Awards returns!
We’ll be granting $10,000 cash prizes to six outstanding members of Seattle's cultural community, one in each of the following categories: Visual Art, Theater, Film, Literature, Music, and a new category, Food.
Our approach remains uniquely unconventional—there’s no application process, no strict criteria, and no disqualifiers. The selection process is guided by one overarching principle: Excellence. Our recipients represent the pinnacle of talent and creativity in Seattle, and our goal is to ensure they continue to enrich our vibrant cultural landscape. And then throw a huge party where the whole city can join in the celebration.
Our $10,000 awards are given with no strings attached. Recipients have complete autonomy over how they use the funds, whether for personal projects or professional development. This flexibility underscores our belief in their vision and our commitment to supporting their artistic journey, wherever it may lead.
Here’s where you come in.
We are seeking donations for the 2025 Genius Awards.
We will celebrate and present the awards at the Moore Theatre on March 22, 2025. This unabashed, ever-memorable event unites Seattle’s entire arts and cultural community, bringing together creatives from every genre for a grand celebration of our city’s vibrant arts scene.
Donors will be recognized in a myriad of ways:
A private donor dinner with Stranger writers and the 2025 Geniuses
An invitation to the 2025 Stranger Genius Awards VIP pre-party
An on-stage thank you at the 2025 Genius Awards
A donor listing on The Genius Awards website
Support can be general, or for specific arts categories, and all donations are tax-deductible.
To explore the exciting partnership opportunities, please contact Kendall Turner at kendall@noisycreek.com
Past Award Recipients
Robinson Devor
Jim Woodring
Shabazz Palaces
Marya Sea Kaminski
DK Pan
Gary Hill
Lesley Hazleton
The Intelligence
John Osebold
Sarah Bergmann
Megan Griffiths
Ellen Forney
Lori Goldstone
Rebecca Brown
Gabriel Baron
Frye Art Museum
Lead Pencil Studio
James Longley
Jonathan Raban
Jennifer Zeyl
On the Boards
Alex Schwerer
Linas Phillips
Heather McHugh
Cary Moon
Amy Thone
Susan Robb
Webster Crowell
Matt Briggs
Chris Jeffries
Velocity Dance Center
Vital 5 Productions
Victoria Haven
David Russo
John Olson
Sarah Rudinoff
Seattle School
Sutton Beres Culler
Michael Seiwerath
Strawberry Theatre Workshop
Wynne Greenwood
Lynn Shelton
Sherman Alexie
Paul Mullin
Implied Violence
Jeffry Mitchell
Zia Mohajerjasbi
Stacey Levine
The Cody Rivers Show
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Susie Lee
Charles Mudede
Mary Ann Peters
Scarecrow Project
Cherdonna Shinatra
Barbara Earl Thomas
Tracy Rector
Lindy West
Erik Blood
Emily Chisholm
Grady West
Zoe Scofield & Juniper Shuey
Eyvind Kang & Jessika Kenney
Rodrigo Valenzuela
Maged Zaher
Benjamin Kasulke
Valerie Curtis-Newton
Industrial Revelation
C. Davida Ingram
Gary Groth
Drew Christie
Yussef El Guindi
Steve Fisk