To promote artistic excellence and encourage innovation in the contemporary craft field, Contemporary Craft established the Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize and the Transformation exhibition series in 1997 to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary and honor the legacy of founder and arts patron Betty Raphael. This triennial juried competition recognizes an emerging or mid-career artist with a $5,000 prize, an exhibition feature, a catalogue, and a professionally produced video.

The Raphael Founder’s Prize is vitally important to advancing the field of contemporary craft, and provides a platform for artists working at the cutting edge in craft media (glass, wood, metal, clay, and found materials). The exhibition attracts emerging and established artists from around the world who are creating thought-provoking work that pushes the boundaries of craft media and techniques. Intrinsically tied to CC’s mission, the Transformation series specifically touches core value areas providing vital support for artists and sharing cross-cultural perspectives.