Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award is accepting responses from art activists

The internationally recognized U.S.-based National AIDS Memorial, in partnership with ViiV Healthcare, has launched the 2025 Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award to honor the legacy of Mary Bowman and support young and emerging art activists. These $5,000 awards recognize individuals who use art to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, health inequities, and the social injustices—such as stigma, discrimination, and economic inequality—that fuel the disease. Recipients are expected to share their funded work within a year of receiving the award, continuing Bowman’s mission to advance health equity and social justice through creative activism.

The National AIDS Memorial, established in 1991, serves as a dedicated space to honor lives lost to AIDS and to educate future generations about the epidemic's impact. In 1996, it was designated as the nation's sole federally recognized AIDS memorial. The Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award, created to honor the legacy of poet and HIV/AIDS advocate Mary Bowman. This award supports emerging artists committed to activism through art, continuing Bowman's mission of using creative expression as a catalyst for change.