The Vilcek Foundation will award six Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Culinary Arts: Food & Beverage and Media & Storytelling. In each category, three young, immigrant culinary professionals who demonstrate outstanding early achievement in their field will receive individual unrestricted cash awards of $50,000. Applications are open through May 4, 2026.
Apply if You:
- Were born outside the United States to non-American parents;
- Are not more than 38 years old;
- Have five years of professional experience in the fields related to Food & Beverage or Media & Storytelling, and possess a strong track record of creative, high-caliber work that enriches the discourse of the culinary arts.
Why Should You Apply:
Individuals chosen for this prize will receive:
- An unrestricted cash award of $50,000;
- An opportunity to reflect on how the applicant’s experience as an immigrant has shaped their success;
- An invaluable endorsement from leaders in the culinary arts field;
- A comprehensive public relations campaign to promote each applicant’s work.
Eligible Categories and Who Can Apply:
Food & Beverage
- Culinary Artists – chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, caterers, etc.
- Beverage Professionals – vintners, distillers, brewers, sommeliers, mixologists, etc.
- Artisans & Food Makers – producers of craft and fine foods such as breads and baked goods, chocolates, cheeses, preserves, charcuterie, confections, tea, vinegars, spices, condiments, and other fine craft products.
Media & Storytelling
- Writers, Thinkers, & Researchers – culinary writers, editors, journalists, authors, academics (historical, theoretical, anthropological), food critics, food essayists, and professionals working in food sustainability and innovation, etc.
- Multi-Media & Entertainment Specialists – culinary professionals in film/TV, broadcast and documentary producers, filmmakers, content creators, podcasters, photographers, stylists, recipe developers and testers, etc.
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet the following criteria to be considered for a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise:
- Have been born outside the United States to non-American parents;
- Not be more than 38 years old as of December 31, 2026 (born on or after January 1, 1988). Exceptions will be made if you were born between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1987, and if you experienced career interruptions due to caregiving, medical, military, or parental leave;
- Have lived in the United States for a minimum of four years in total or immigrated to the United States at least four years prior to the date of this application;
- Be one of the following: a naturalized citizen or a permanent resident of the United States; an H-1B or O-1 visa holder with a valid visa stamp; an H-4 visa holder with a valid EAD card; a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) relief; an asylee or an asylum seeker who has applied for asylum and has a valid EAD card. You may be required to submit a scanned copy of a valid immigration document if your application progresses in the review process. The staff at the Vilcek Foundation will reach out with instructions at the appropriate time;
- Have at least five years of professional experience in culinary arts;
- Not be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program (Exceptions may apply for some doctoral students who will complete their program this year);
- Intend to pursue a professional career in the United States;
- Not be a past winner of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in any category.
Partners or collaborators may apply jointly, but all members must meet the eligibility requirements.
Application and Selection Process
- Complete the application process. You will be required to:
- Register for the Vilcek Foundation Prizes Portal. You will receive an email from creativepromise@vilcek.org prompting you to create your account. Please check your spam and junk folders if you do not receive it.
- Complete all the required questions and sections:
- Provide your professional details and background, including a public link to your current CV and a brief description of how your background meets the requirement of at least five years of professional experience in the culinary arts.
- Answer three essay questions:
- What is your culinary story? Please tell us about your personal or professional path in developing your culinary skills and talents. How have you demonstrated standards of excellence? (Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces and punctuation.)
- What do you hope to achieve through the culinary arts? (Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces and punctuation.)
- Describe the circumstances of your immigration to the United States and how your experience as an immigrant informed and enriched your career in the culinary arts. (Maximum 1,500 characters, including spaces and punctuation.)
- Portfolio: Provide up to five work samples that best represent your career, aesthetic, and vision. Your portfolio may include sample menus, food photography, writing samples, product images, examples of video or other content you have created, or other documentation of your work. (URL)
- Press coverage: Provide up to five examples of media coverage of your work. (URL)
- Two references: Provide the names and contact information of two references.
- Sign an age exception self-attestation if you were born between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1987.
- Submit a completed application by Monday, May 4, 2026, 5:00 pm ET. Once you have set up your account and logged into the Vilcek Foundation Prizes Portal, please choose the category for which you wish to apply. Take time to carefully review all the requirements and follow all instructions regarding content length, character limits, and formats. Please answer all required questions and sections thoroughly. Incomplete applications may not be considered, so we encourage you to provide detailed and accurate responses.
- A panel of distinguished jurors will evaluate applications in each category based on the applicant’s contributions to the culinary arts, as demonstrated by their essays, portfolio, CV, and references. The individuals chosen will have demonstrated high-caliber work and a strong commitment to the field.
- Recommendations of the jury will be submitted to the Vilcek Foundation’s Board of Directors for final approval. All three winners in each category will be considered equal in standing.
- The winners of the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Culinary Arts will be notified in September 2026. Prizewinners will be invited to attend the Vilcek Foundation’s Awards Ceremony in New York City in the spring of 2027. Travel expenses and accommodations will be covered by the foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Culinary Arts Application:
I meet all the requirements except for one; am I eligible?
In order to be considered for the prize, applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements.
Do you have any tips for writing my responses to the application essay questions?
Applicants should use the essays to provide context for the work and materials submitted for the jury’s review. We are also interested in learning about each applicant’s immigration story to better understand the unique circumstances and experiences that shape their work, individual perspectives, and vision.
Which professions in the culinary arts are eligible to apply?
Applicants in the Food & Beverage category will be considered across the following areas of practice:
- Culinary Artists – chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, caterers, etc.
- Beverage Professionals – vintners, distillers, brewers, sommeliers, mixologists, etc.
- Artisans & Food Makers – producers of craft and fine foods such as breads and baked goods, chocolates, cheeses, preserves, charcuterie, confections, tea, vinegars, spices, condiments, and other fine craft products.
Applicants in the Media & Storytelling categories will be considered across the following areas of practice:
- Writers, Thinkers, & Researchers – culinary writers, editors, journalists, authors, academics (historical, theoretical, anthropological), food critics, food essayists, and professionals working in food sustainability and innovation, etc.
- Multi-Media & Entertainment Specialists – culinary professionals in film/TV, broadcast and documentary producers, filmmakers, content creators, podcasters, photographers, stylists, recipe developers and testers, etc.
Are interdisciplinary practices eligible?
Yes, applicants with interdisciplinary practices can apply for the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise as long as they identify with at least one of the eligible categories. Applicants will be required to select one primary category to identify their work.
How long should my CV be?
There is no limit to the length of an applicant’s CV, but we advise that all CVs be condensed to the most relevant points.
What should I do if the name I use professionally is different from the name on my ID?
If an applicant’s professional name differs from what is listed on the applicant’s ID, please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org to discuss this before submitting an application.
Can a collective apply for the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise?
Yes, as long as all members of the collective meet the eligibility requirements, a representative may submit an application on behalf of the collective. Please note that if selected, the cash award can only be paid to one individual.
Can I receive feedback on my application?
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback on applications due to the high volume of applications received.
How do you define five years of professional experience in the culinary arts?
Five years of professional experience is defined as an applicant’s professional practice spanning a minimum of five collective years. We encourage applicants to reflect on their professional journey over the past five or more years and describe the key milestones, projects, or experiences that have shaped their work, demonstrating their sustained engagement in the field.
The projects I am looking to submit fall across more than one of your categories. Will my application be more or less competitive depending on the categories I select?
No. We understand that applicants may work across multiple categories, but please select the one primary category when applying. This is an organizational lens for us and will not impact the validity or merit of the application or how the jury will conduct its assessment.
Can I submit materials in foreign languages?
Yes, but please include English translations for non-English materials.
I am a full-time student in a PhD doctoral program, and I expect to finish my program before the end of this year; am I eligible?
If an applicant meets all other requirements, they are likely eligible. Please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org to best determine eligibility.
What part of my application is most important to the jury? What can I do to strengthen my application?
All components of the application are important, but the jury will pay special attention to the applicant’s essays, portfolio, and CV.
Will the jurors/screeners see all components of my application?
No, the jurors/screeners will only see selected components of each application: name, country of birth, age, institution, title, race and ethnicity, gender, the culinary arts category, CV, essays, portfolio, and press coverage.
What components of my application will the jurors/screeners not see?
The jurors/screeners will not have access to the following application components: immigration status and documentation. This information is viewed only by the staff at the Vilcek Foundation for verification purposes.
What should I include in my portfolio?
Please share three to five work samples that best represent the individual career, aesthetics, and vision of each applicant. This portfolio should showcase the body of work the applicant would like the jurors to review. Depending on each applicant’s career path, sample menus, food photography or product images, writing samples, examples of video or other created content, or other documentation of work may be included.
Who should be my references? What kind of information are you looking for?
Applicants are encouraged to share references who can respond to our request within a specified deadline of five business days in June 2026. We are seeking candid comments from a reference who is familiar with and can speak about the applicant’s professional and personal qualities.
Will my reference have to submit a formal letter of recommendation?
No, applicant references do not need to write a formal letter of recommendation. We accept their comments in any format, including written comments via email or a viewable link (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) to an audio or video file of them speaking.
Does my reference have to speak English?
No, applicant references do not have to speak English; however, an English-written translation should be provided.
Will my reference definitely be contacted?
No, references are only contacted if an applicant advances to the next round.
Can I change or update an already submitted application?
Applicants may email creativepromise@vilcek.org to notify us of any changes or updates, but we cannot guarantee any changes to an already submitted application.
If I am not selected as a prizewinner this year, can I apply again in the future?
Yes, as long as an applicant is within the age limit of a specific prize cycle and is not selected as a previous prizewinner, they are eligible to reapply. Please note that our arts and humanities categories repeat every eight to ten years.
May I apply for a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise and submit an application for a Vilcek Foundation Grant in the same year?
Yes, individuals who are eligible for the Vilcek Priz for Creative Promise may also submit a grant application on behalf of an organization, provided they are the primary point of contact for an eligible organization seeking funding. The Vilcek Foundation only accepts applications for grants from organizations that are nonprofits under IRC 501(c)(3) in the United States.
The Vilcek Foundation Prizes and Grants are separate and have different eligibility requirements and application processes. In order to apply for both a prize and a grant, applicants will need to register accounts with both our prizes and grant portals, and will be required to use separate, unique email addresses for each portal. For more information about the Vilcek Foundation Grants, please visit vilcek.org/grants.
Immigration Requirement:
I am currently here on OPT/student/other visa types; am I eligible?
Applicants are eligible if they currently hold a valid O-1, H-1B, or H-4 visa and have been residing in the United States for at least four years. Any other visa status is not eligible. However, if an applicant is on OPT, has lived in the United States for at least four years, and is in the process of applying for an H-1B or O-1, and will have the proper documentation by June 2026, please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org before submitting an application.
I am currently applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status; am I eligible?
Applicants are eligible if they have an I-797 approval notice showing approval of the I-821D DACA application. If an applicant is in the process of applying for DACA and expects to have the proper documentation by June 2026, please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org before submitting your application.
I am currently in the process of applying for a green card; am I eligible?
If an applicant is in the process of finalizing the application for a green card and expects to have the proper documentation by June 2026, please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org before submitting your application.
My green card or visa has expired; am I eligible?
Applicants need a valid visa in order to be eligible. If an applicant’s green card has expired, please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org with more details on when and how it expired.
My temporary green card has expired, but I have submitted paperwork to become a permanent resident. I do not know if and when they will receive my information; am I eligible?
Yes, applicants in the process of becoming permanent residents are eligible. Please contact us at creativepromise@vilcek.org for further instructions.
My visa was approved, but I don’t have a visa stamp yet; am I eligible?
Applicants may submit the approval notice in place of the visa stamp, but please only submit an approval notice when contacted by the staff at the Vilcek Foundation.
Do I need to submit my visa or citizenship documents with my application?
No, applicants only need to select the citizenship/immigration document type that is applicable when submitting an application. Applicants may be required to submit a scanned copy of a valid immigration document if their application progresses in the review process. The staff at the Vilcek Foundation will reach out with instructions at the appropriate time.
Can I send my visa or citizenship documents by email?
Please do not email citizenship/immigration documents to the Vilcek Foundation. Applicants may be required to submit a scanned copy of a valid immigration document if their application progresses in the review process. The staff at the Vilcek Foundation will reach out with instructions at the appropriate time.
I’m currently in between visas and live outside the United States; am I eligible?
Unfortunately, applicants between visas who live outside of the United States are not eligible to apply for the prizes.
I became a United States citizen when I was a minor and do not have a certificate of naturalization; am I eligible?
If contacted by the staff at the Vilcek Foundation to provide documentation, please submit a birth certificate and passport instead of a certificate of naturalization.
I can’t locate my certificate of naturalization; am I eligible?
If contacted by the staff at the Vilcek Foundation to provide documentation, please submit a birth certificate and passport instead of a certificate of naturalization.
I have become a United States citizen. May I provide a copy of my passport as proof of my immigration status?
No, a passport may be submitted as a supplementary document only.
I was born in Puerto Rico, Guam, or another United States territory; am I eligible?
Unfortunately, we do not accept applications from individuals born in the United States territories.
I was born outside the United States, but to American citizens; am I eligible?
No, we do not accept applications from United States citizens who were born overseas but are American by birth.
Age Requirement:
I am over the age limit, but not by much; can you make an exception?
Unfortunately, we are unable to make exceptions unless the applicant has experienced a career interruption due to caregiving, medical, military, or parental leave, and is within two years of the age requirement (born between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1987).
What kind of documentation should I provide to prove my career interruption?
Below are examples of accepted documentation:
- Confirmation letter from an employer, a medical provider, or a military office;
- Official request for leave or approval notice;
- Certificate of birth or military service.
Do you accept other reasons for career interruptions?
No, currently we only make exceptions for caregiving, medical, military, or parental leave.
Cash Award & Taxes:
Can the prizewinners use the cash award to support a specific project, cover personal expenses, or for other purposes?
Each prizewinner will receive an unrestricted cash award, with no obligation to use the money in any particular way.
Are there any other monetary fees that I should be aware of before applying?
The prizewinners receive unrestricted cash awards, which are considered taxable income. Consult a financial advisor to understand any tax implications of receiving a cash award from the Vilcek Foundation.
Are the Vilcek Foundation Prizes considered grants?
No, the prizes are cash awards, not grants. They will be considered taxable income.
If I win, will I have to pay taxes on the prize?
Yes, applicants will be required to pay taxes on any income received from the Vilcek Foundation Prizes.
Can the cash awards be given to institutions?
No, the cash awards can only be paid to individuals.
Can I decline to receive the prize payment and make a charitable donation instead?
In some cases, yes. We have a policy on prize transfers that outlines scenarios for transfers of cash awards. Following receipt of a prize, contact us to learn more about our policy.