What does abundant creativity require?
We believe that all of society benefits when artists receive the same protections and support as other workers.
We’re building an artist-driven movement for a more sustainable creative ecosystem where artists and creativity thrive.
Doris Duke Artist Awards
Since 2012, the Doris Duke Artist Awards have granted over $40 million to leading contemporary dance, jazz and theater artists. As the largest prize of its kind in the United States, the awards uniquely recognize artists as both individuals and creative workers.
Meet the 2025 Awardees
The Doris Duke Artist Award is more than an award. It is a platform to fight for the future of all performing artists.”
Sam Gill
President and CEO
Doris Duke Foundation
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Artists at Work at Shangri La
For more than a decade, the Doris Duke Foundation’s center in Hawai’i, has supported a global network of working artists through fellowships and residencies.
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Protecting Artists’ Livelihoods
Two initiatives—led by United States Artists and the Center for Cultural Innovation, respectively—advocate for wider cultural policy and safeguards for artists, freelancers and gig workers.
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Singing in Solidarity
On May Day 2025, a participatory choral performance led by Troy Anthony and the Fire Ensemble rallies support for artists and the power of the performing arts.
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AIR: A Week of Radical Imagination, Art and Exchange
The Aspen Art Museum convenes artists, scientists, technologists, cultural leaders and audiences to engage with art’s role in representing and shaping our shared reality.
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From Reflection to Action in the Nation’s Capital
DC Jazz Festival, Arena Stage and the Doris Duke Foundation join together for a one-day conference in Washington, D.C., to examine the evolving landscape of artistic labor and the conditions necessary for creative industries to thrive.
Read moreWhat We’re Reading, Watching and Listening to
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Learn more about our Arts Program.
