There’s a magic to the BRAVA Awards that goes beyond recognition. It’s about pausing to witness the brilliance of artists who illuminate the world, even when it can feel heavy or uncertain. This year’s ceremony was a celebration of that light, a reminder of why BIMA exists to support creativity and give artists room to thrive.

We honored four remarkable artists: Sarah Bryant, winner of the Artists’ Books Artist Award (United States); Dan Friday, recipient of the Native American & First Nations Artist Award (Salish Sea Region); Yolanda Galery, winner of the Emerging Artist Award (Puget Sound Region); and Nikki McClure, recipient of the 2025 Special Choice Category: Children’s Book Illustrator Award (Puget Sound Region). Each brought a unique perspective to their work—Sarah with her thoughtful book arts; Dan, weaving ancestral imagery into glass; Yolanda, celebrating identity and expression through vibrant paintings; and Nikki, whose delicate paper-cut illustrations connect children to wonder and the natural world.

Throughout the evening, we reflected on the state of the art world and the challenges artists face. BIMA Executive Director, Sheila Hughes, reminded us of the importance of cultivating hope: “Artists see and interpret this complicated world for us. They cultivate our hope. And in the struggle against apathy and cynicism…things that shut down our world and make it smaller, they open the world back up for us with ideas, perspectives and expressions. They call us into inquiry. But at BIMA, we understand that we are downstream on this cultural river, and that further upstream, the artists themselves are experiencing their livelihoods being threatened, disrespected, disrupted…I know this all sounds quite dark, but there are lights in this world, from candles and flashlights, to bioluminescence and exploding stars, and this program and this museum are among them. BIMA and BRAVA Awards can’t replace the IMLS, and they can’t set the Kennedy Center back on their track, but we can be a light on the path for artists who are interested in cultivating hope. And in this case, four artists, who each have something very important and very beautiful to share with us. We can add our light to the sum of light.”

The evening also featured BRAVA Award films by Tony Hannawacker, centered on each winner and offering an intimate look into their inspirations, processes, and stories. Watching these films reminded everyone present why art matters—it connects, challenges, and uplifts us. See below to watch these amazing films!

The celebration concluded with Nikki McClure, the last award winner to be honored, sharing her encouragement: “Keep making, believe that you can make, know that you can make, and know that you will make. And we are here today to celebrate, and we’re going to support this creative work. These people working towards illuminating joy… working towards showing people wonder, and creating unity, creating community. So tomorrow, what are we going to do tomorrow? I say we just keep doing this. Let’s find somebody to lift up, let’s find someone to encourage, let’s find someone to support…you have a whole community behind you, and they are all saying: ‘More, more, please, we need you!’…”

And with that, Nikki shouted: BRAVA!!

Congratulations to the 2025 BRAVA Award winners, and thank you for continuing to be a beacon of light in this world. We are honored to stand beside you and champion your work.