The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) is accepting scholarship applications for its annual Failure Award Scholarship.

The scholarship is worth $20,000 and it can be used at any accredited post-secondary institution towards educational expenses.

“While so much of student life is focused on achievement, MCA Denver believes that in order to create something original and authentic, it is necessary to risk failure,” said Sarah Kate Biae, director of programming for MCA Denver, in a news release. “The Failure Award is given not on the basis of academic merit or athletic prowess, but rather on a student’s demonstration of a willingness to take these risks.”

To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of Colorado, graduate from a Colorado high school in the spring of 2022, plan to attend an accredited college or university in the fall of 2022 and be able to attend the MCA Denver Failure Awards on April 30. Applicants must also demonstrate “innovation, creativity, fearlessness and a willingness to risk failure in the pursuit of something new,” states a news release.

Finalists will be selected based on their project description and supporting documentation, demonstration of creative risk-taking and presentation, states the news release. Finalists will present their project to a panel of judges and the visiting public during the MCA Denver Failure Awards. Each student will have 10 minutes to present their work, and then will answer questions from the panel. Participants will be evaluated on originality, innovation and their ability to present a project within the theme of risking failure as an integral part of the creative process.

Deadline to apply is April 1. Interested applicants can apply by creating an account to access the application through The Denver Foundation, or by visiting MCA Denver’s website at mcadenver.org. More information about the selection process and important dates can be found on that website.