Grants for Artists – Easy Grants

Last Updated on May 15, 2023 by Danielle McDonald

Grants for artists are either sponsored by the government or private and nonprofit organizations. They provide financial support to various artists in certain locations so they could promote their chosen field of art and be acknowledged by the audience. These grants vary depending on the needs of the artists, and the benefits they will receive also depend on either grant money or equipment. The need to support artists has been the objective of why these grants for artists have been established since. Artists worldwide are being paid attention to less; they are often neglected in a way that most artists fall in debt or don’t have any money to survive. In this article, I will be discussing the many grants artists can choose and apply for.

What is the National Endowment for Arts?

The National Endowment for Arts offers qualified applicants various opportunities concerning art appreciation. This program is the only program in the United States that rewards money grants on events that idealize art. They sponsor nonprofit organizations that promote any kind of art with the 62 jurisdictional art agencies and regional arts organizations. They also have various programs that serve as educational instruction that art is more beyond that just painting, words, drawing. it’s all about understanding what unites them together, how they flow so freely together. In addition to that, they also campaign for diversity and equity because they believe that everyone has the right to be part of something and that their beliefs are worth valuing for.

How to apply for NEA?

Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov the “Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organization Form.” This is a brief form that will collect very basic information about your organization.

Part 2: Complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” and upload items through the NEA’s Applicant Portal. This webform is where you will enter the majority of your application material (e.g., project description, timelines, budget information).

Why are grants provided for artists?

Grants are given by private and nonprofit organizations to qualified applicants to fund their work. For artists, grants can give them a residency, rent a theater, buy supplies for their play or a sculpture, hire actors and actresses, etc. For artists, grants can provide them with so much more. Receiving a grant from a well-known and well-respected organization can give you more advantages in the future because it means that you’ve already been examined and acknowledged by the first grant you’d receive. Moreover, the grants will let you use it in two ways: general support and project-specific. For general support, you could use the money to manage your expenses to support your art. For project-specific, you can only use the money to finish the project you’ve written in your applications. Grants provided for artists mean so much more because they are given the exact attention they need from everybody and that is to appreciate art.

What is the artist relief?

Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAP Fund, YoungArts, and United States Artists established Artist Relief to help address the needs of artists, and emergency relief grants. It has raised over $25 million starting with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. From April 2020 to June 2021, it has already assisted artists with over $5,000 emergency relief grants. Moreover, Artist Relief also associates with Americans for the Arts and Yancy Consulting to conduct research to give voice to financial burdens artists and independent creative workers are experiencing.

What are the grants given for artists in Miami-Dade?

Artists are directly served by the Department through several competitive funding programs. These programs are aimed at providing direct help to artists working in a range of fields. Each of the Department’s artist award programs is subject to a review procedure in which grant applications are evaluated by a peer panel. Miami-Dade was established in 1951 and it never stopped promoting Hispanic arts.

Furthermore, the following list contains the grants given for artists in Miami-Dade:

Artists Professional Development (APD) Program – This is still an ongoing project by Miami-Dade County, but its objective is to develop skill-building opportunities among the diverse communities of artists who originate works and who apply for those works. In addition to that, they offer artists the appropriate tools to maintain their creative careers

Artist Acces (Art) Grants Program – Available to the residents of Miami-Dade County, this is given to practicing, professional artists that will be allowed to develop their practice and careers in demonstrable ways.

South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC) – It has funding of over $15,000 and $7,500 fellowships to be given to the residents of Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach. It advertises visual and media artists from these counties and in addition to that, they will also be part of an exhibition hosted by a visual arts institution in the five counties.

Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Stipend Program – It offers financial support for any production costs of performances, exhibitions, workshops, presentations, research, etc. To individual artists living in Miami-Dade County. This program seeks professional artists of the highest caliber to promote the diverse cultural life deeply rooted in Miami.

Dance Miami Choreographers – It has funding of over $10,000 that supports the artistic development of professional choreographers living in Miami-Dade County. Just a reminder that if you have received the grant money, it is taxable so it’s best advised that you consult a tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service to know your tax liability.

Playwright Development Program (PDP) – The program’s goal is to offer intensive help and support for playwrights in Miami-Dade County’s growing and diverse population to generate new work. Local playwrights are encouraged to submit work samples for consideration by a panel that will select only a few participants for the series.

Musician Grants in United States

Grants are a great way for musicians to get money. There are plenty of music grant organizations in the United States that provide money to serious artists regularly, allowing the beneficiaries to focus only on advancing their musical careers in some way. They also do not require repayment, unlike loans. There is also an organization that assists aspirant musicians, while others assist more seasoned musicians. The benefits they could get from the grants could be used to start a new music project, record an album, go on a tour, depending on the grant you’ve applied for. In addition to that, some organizations offer no limitations on how you can utilize the benefits from the grants.

Furthermore, the following list contains grants for musicians in the United States:

New York Foundation for the Arts – For 32 years, this has been giving out funding to various artists at all stages of their careers. The money the qualified applicant can benefit from is over $7,000 which can help develop the artist’s careers into so much more.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts – This was founded in 1963 to advertise the projects of their fellow artists. If offers grants to well-seasoned artists, not to mention emergency grants with funding of over $500 to $2,500.

The Alice M. Diston Fund – The foundation has given out over 2,000 awards in support of modern American classical concert music since its inception in 1940. They provide funds for recording initiatives to bring the music of younger, lesser-known American composers to a larger audience.

New Music USA grants – They encourage and support all forms of musical creativity in the United States. They give music projects with money, assistance for small organizations and DIY venues, and even composer-in-residence slots in orchestras.

Tennessee Arts Commission – Individual Artist Fellowships, which include composers, offer $5,000 to professional artists of all types. There are no restrictions on however you wish to use the money, but you must have a career in line with music to be considered for the fellowship.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation – It was established t fund multi-state arts programs but now, it was extended to encompass projects across the country. Artists that want to produce, tour, grow an audience and advance their careers can apply for the scholarships.

LEAP Award – They provide a $1000 grant to a young artist working in the field of modern craft. The money will be used to help the recipient develop a new product line or body of work.

COLA Individual Artist Fellowship – This is given to accomplished artists who live in Los Angeles or have shown off their work there for at least three years. For the creation of unique new work, the Department of Cultural Affairs awards $10,000 to each artist.

Fellowships at Berklee College of Music – Qualified applicants are given fellowships. They also give funding to internships with select employers in the field of media, technology, and various creative industries. In addition to that, Berklee graduate students are also allowed to enroll at the Boston and Madrid campuses.

Grants from New Music USA – Aside from funding various music projects, they also promote small groups and homegrown venues and offer jobs for composer-in-residence in orchestras.

Grants from the International Music and Art Foundation – They are based in New York City and give funding to organizations that uplift the development of visual and performing arts alongside past researchers and preservation of art and culture.

National Endowment for the Arts – This is sponsored by the government intended to give grant money to musicians who have contributed fame to jazz and are worthy of receiving national acclaim.

Grants from the Beebe Fund for Musicians – It has funding of over $22,000. for one year, they also provide travel and lodging assistance intended for classical singers and composers touring the world.

The ASCAP Foundation – Other organizations participating in music education and talent development programs that are consistent with The ASCAP Foundation’s mission and objectives are invited to submit proposals. At the end of the project, current grant winners must submit a program report to The ASCAP Foundation.

The grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation – Named after the legacy of Lee Krasner, this foundation has set sights on promoting and enhancing the creative lives of both newbies and professional artists. Since 1985, it has already awarded 65 million dollars to artists

Fellowships for Visual Artists awarded by the McKnight Foundation – They are based in Minnesota and have funding of over $25,000 to be given to qualified artists. Eligibility includes any performing musicians.

NYSCA – They grant money to groups that specialize in chamber music, choral music, opera, jas and symphonic music. It has given out $3 million grants to 207 different groups just this year.

Fulbright Fellowship in the Creative and Performing Arts – This has given out many opportunities to students worldwide. It gives funding to students who are financially challenged.

Sigma Alpha Iota Impact Project Grant – It was founded in 1985, and has been funding major projects that may become something greater in the future. It has a yearly allocation to fund several Impact Grant projects. Eligibility for this grant includes university music departments with SAI college chapters.

Eastman School of Music’s Paul R. Judy Center Grant Program – It promotes innovation when it comes to music. It has grants of over $500 to $2,000 that will help qualified applicants work on their innovative projects to be successful.

BMI Foundation New Music Grants – Its objectives center on the idea of developing and expanding programs, performance, and study of contemporary music. The aid qualified American composers may benefit will help them with their careers.

National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards – Projects that are deemed worthy and the winner will be given $10,000 and an invitation to accept their prize in Washington, D.C.

Artist Grants and Opportunities in United States

Grants and opportunities for artists are intended to help them financially. A grant is so much more when you use it wisely. These grants will sustain the needs of artists to be acknowledged by everyone, not just their work, but the artists that were behind that beautiful art. This will find their footing in a world where most of the time artists are being paid little attention to.

Furthermore, the following list contains various grants and opportunities in the United States:

Sleeping Bear Dunes Artist in Residence Program – This is intended t professional American composers, visual artists, and writers whose skills can be used to promote the picturesque scene of National Lakeshore. It has financial assistance of over $800 per month, $100 for a partner, and $200 for children alongside a house.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant – It has been established since 1993 to promote the work of a contemporary, experimental nature. They provide emergency grants to American artists with a field in visual and performing arts. Grants may amount to $500 to $2,500.

Rauschenberg Emergency Grants – It is associated with New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and has been working side by side since. They offer emergency grants to be given to American artists who are in the field of visual arts, media arts, and choreography. Grant money is up to $5,000.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship – It selects artists with various disciplines and be given money of over $7,000. Eligibility includes living in New York and being 25 years old and older. Their art field should be in the following art disciplines: fiction, folk/traditional arts, interdisciplinary work, painting, and video film.

Public Art for Sacramento River Trail at Stress Ribbon Bridge-Outdoor Sculpture – This is orchestrated by the City of Redding that seeks professional artists to design and install public art that captures the feature of Sacramento River Trail, all the while capturing the interest of Stress Ribbon Bridge, and is used to commemorate of the memories of Redding’s community members. Qualified artists will be given a $5,000 honorarium and a budget of over $200,000.

Art in Roanoke Temporary Sculpture Exhibition: Reimagining Roanoke – They provide opportunities to at least eight artists to display sculptures in the sixth Art in Roanoke (AIR).

Artists Fellowship, Inc. – In times of illness, natural disaster, loss, or unexpected acute hardship, the Artists’ Fellowship gives emergency assistance to professional fine artists and their families.

MyVO ART – AD ART SHOW 2021 call for artists – It is an art show intended for artists worldwide to showcase their skills in advertising and design.

International Portfolio Competition 2021 – Four winning photographers will be given individual exhibitions at the gallery. Initial selections will be made by a panel of jurors based on digital entries. Prints will be used to make final decisions.

Request for Proposals: The Kintsugi Spirit – U.S.-based artists worldwide with a background in dance, music, comedy, theater, poetry, visual art, essays, etc. are all eligible to participate in this competition.

Where can artists find emergency grants?

The recent worldwide health crisis has thrown the art world into disarray, with galleries and museums closing and artists’ shows being canceled or postponed. Many in the business, particularly artists, who often perform without the security net of jobless benefits or even health insurance, are feeling anxious about their financial futures in this unfamiliar territory.

Furthermore, the following list contains emergency grants for artists:

Freelancers Relief Fund – It provides grant money of over $1,000 per freelance household in the form of substitution for lost income and essential expenses. Eligibility includes freelancers living in the US.

NYFA and Rauschenberg Emergency Grants – Their system is one-time and provides up to $5,000 funding for medical emergencies. This is given to visual and media artists and choreographers.

Art Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – This is a first-come, first-served basis and has to grant money of over $200 per person. Eligibility includes the BIPOC community and indigenous individuals who are in dire need of financial assistance.

CERF + (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) – It offers up to $3,000 grant money for professional artists who have contracted COVID-19. they also provide discounts, donation and art supplies to the recipients. Eligibility includes low-income artists who must be legal US residents.

Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. – It’s one-time financial assistance that offers to pay emergency medical bills. This is given to artists who are dealing with medical emergencies.

Artist’s Charitable Fund – It’s a nonprofit organization that offers to pay half of your medical bills to your medical providers. Eligibility includes painters and sculptors.

Artist Relief – Similar to Artists’ Fellowship, Inc., this is also one-time financial assistance that will be given to artists reeling from the effect of COVID-19.

Pollock-Krasner Foundation – Grants for artistic merit and financial need that can be demonstrated on a personal or professional level. The amount of the grant is decided by the conditions the artist is currently in

Leveler – Applicants will be given a form in which they will put their reason on how COVID-19 has greatly impacted their lives due to COVID-19. This is a peer-to-peer wealth distribution in small increments.

Covid-19 Grants Provided to Artists

The increasing prevalence of COVID-19 in the United States has the creative community an exceptionally difficult and unexpected week. Understandably, many people are concerned about their immediate future as a result of large-scale event cancellations and the associated loss of freelancing income. To address the issue, there were grants provided by either the government and private or nonprofit organizations for artists to benefit from.

Furthermore, the following list is the COVID-19 grants for artists:

Local 802 Musician’s Emergency Relief Fund – This is a nonprofit organization facilitated by the Musician’s Assistance Program (MAP). they offer confidential social services to the family and relatives of musicians.American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund – They offer temporary funding to artists who are in financial constraints. This is a national fund that offers comprehensive social services.

Fulcrum Fund – It has an award of over $60,000 for emergency relief grants by providing $1,000 to 60 artists living in Albuquerque who has lost their work and income due to last-minute cancellations because of COVID-19.Boston Artist Relief Fund – They offer grant money of over $500 to $1,000 to be given to individual artists living in Boston whose work in the field of arts was greatly affected by COVID-19.

Chicago Musicians Emergency Relief Fund – This was established to give out financial assistance to members who are acknowledged and have good relationships with the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

Artist Relief – It offers $5,000 grant money to artists who need it due to the surge of COVID-19. They also address and identify the needs of artists.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants – This is given to visual and performing artists who have an emergency and doesn’t have time to find sources for the budget needed. This grant will get you covered and give you the money that you need.

Musicians Foundation – It offers financial assistance to musicians and their families who have been subjected to tragedy, adjustment, or crisis.

New Music Solidarity Fund – This is intended for music freelancers to help them rise after their lives have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – It is associated with the Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund which can be donated by anyone to support the BIPOC community who has been greatly affected by COVID-19.

What are the grants given to artists to grow their art business?

Grants offer funding to cover rent and other expenses, allowing the artist to focus solely on their creation. Grants are very competitive, and the amount provided requirements, and application procedures vary significantly. Some are granted to enable an artist to accomplish a specific project, while others are unrestricted. Some are given solely on the basis of need, while others are offered as a prize in a competition. Some are accessible to applications, while others are only available through nomination.

Furthermore, the following list is grants given to artists to grow their art business:

NC Artist Relief Fund – This fund was established to assist artists who have been financially disadvantaged by gig cancellations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 100% of donated monies will go directly to North Carolina artists and arts presenters.

GoFundMe: #GLFCAMGgThruCOVID – It has already contributed a $15,000 to a GoFundMe campaign. These new compositions will be offered to musicians who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 and are in financial distress. Each performer will be asked to join with their matched composer via Skype to work remotely on the new work’s development in preparation for its eventual online premiere in front of a virtual audience.

MusiCares – Professionals in the music industry are eligible to apply for basic living assistance (rent or mortgage). Initial grant requests of up to $1000 can be made to compensate for scheduled but uncompleted work.

American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund – It supports members in need with support and temporary financial assistance. AGMA has a national partnership with The Actors Fund to operate this program and provide extensive social services.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants – This is given to visual and performing artists who are in need of financial assistance due to an emergency. When there is an insufficient amount of time to find any source of money, this foundation can help.

Art & Culture Grants in the United States

Performing arts, artists, art education programs, museums, visual arts, and other sectors of the arts and culture are included in this list. These organizations are presently seeking letters of inquiry or project ideas, as well as grant and funding opportunities. Moreover, the following list contains grants designed for art and culture in the United States:

The Kresge Foundation – They seek to expand opportunities in the United State by giving out grants and social investing. They promote the importance of arts and culture through community development and planning.

Ford Foundation – They give funding to individuals who have been striving in arts. They promote artist-driven film and documentary films that give voice to inequality.

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts – This offers to fund organizations that are advertising the work of their artists.

The Shubert Foundation – The Shubert Foundation provides general operations to promote live performing arts in the United States in order to preserve and advance them. Although its lead focus is on theater, they also provide grants to arts-related organizations and MFA programs to aid in their development and advancement.

Highland Street Foundation – They address the concerns for children and families in Massachusetts and California. They give out opportunities related to housing, education, environment, arts, and healthcare.

The Pew Charitable Trusts – It has a panel-adjudicated project which grants two areas: exhibitions and public interpretation, and performance. They support projects that advertise and promote Philadelphia’s cultural vibrancy and boost its economy.

Oregon Community Foundation – It aims to use the power of generosity to improve the quality of life of all Oregonians. They manage millions of dollars in annual funding for vital arts and arts education initiatives in communities around the state.

Knight Foundation – They are ensuring that individuals who arts major, or have a career in arts can receive the funding they need in order to thrive in the world. They believe that arts and culture are the heart of the community, spreading light in the darkest of places to give them meaning. They seek to develop and include talents and organizations.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation – They want to give financial assistance to communities who are leaning towards innovations, where ideas and imagination fester. Their funding that is related to arts and culture is centered on curators, artists, scholars, conservators, and organizations.

Bernard Osher Foundation – They accept applications from a wide array selection in the field of arts and educational organization, all hailed from the San Francisco Bay Area and Maine. Their recipients come from the pool of individuals doing performing arts.

What are the grants for minority artists?

Minority groups can be classified by race, gender, socioeconomic status, or even geographic location. There are several grants, certifications, and tools available to you whether you run a minority-owned business. It is understandable how time-consuming it can be to look for possibilities, so we’ve compiled this list to free you up to do what you love: create. Grants are so much more – they can change lives. Artists can benefit from it so much and they can use it as their ticket for a better life. Also, these grants wouldn’t be in a form of a debt that you to repay after a few years. Once you qualify for a grant, it’s yours to use as long as its limitations are not being abused.

Furthermore, the following list contains grants for minority artists:

The Veteran Small Business Award – The StreetShares Foundation has an annual contest that gives out three money prizes: $15,000, $6,000, $4,000. This will be given to US Armed Forces veterans who want to start a business.

DigitalUndivided’s Do You Fellowship – They invest in the businesses of Black and Latinx women. This fellowship will give 10 Black and Latinx women $5,000 as funding for their businesses.

IFundWomen Grants – This grant supports women-owned businesses while also offering financial assistance that will give them the confidence and connection to develop their small businesses.

FedEx Small Business Grant Contest – This is owned by FedEx and it’s an annual program that offers grant money of over $15,000-$50,000

Minority Business Development Agency Grants – it is associated with the U.S. Department of Commerce that had a searchable database that will help you find local business centers that can cater to the needs of your company.

NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge – It facilitates a pitch contest with a prize of over $50,000. Eligibility includes US resident, the company you’ve been working for must be Black, and at least one member of your team are part of the National Black MBA Association.

Amber Grants for Women – WomensNet provides financial assistance monthly to select women entrepreneurs with over $4,000. additionally, the recipients will also receive an additional $25,000 Amber Grant annually.

Annuity Payment Freedom grants for BIPOC, Women, and Artists – They prioritize the needs of BIPOC, artists, and women whose expertise is centered on organic SEO (Serch Engine Optimization) traffic. Grantees will receive three separate $100 monthly.

#YouTubeBlackVoices Grant Program – This program promotes any work or content from the Black community and gives them the resources they need for vlogs.

First Nations Development Institute Grants – It was established in 1993 and has since then awarded 2000 grants amounting to $4.2 million given to Native American projects and organizations.

EF Foundation Moving Image Fund – This is sponsored by a private family foundation that gives funding to filmmakers and production teams based in New England, New Mexico, and California. Grant money is over $15,000 to $25,000.

NASE Grants for Small Businesses – It gives funding of over $4,000 to micro-business owners that be used to enhance and develop their small businesses.

Asian Women Giving Circle Grants – This is owned by Asian American women whose objective is to give funding to women’s businesses.

USA Grants for Women – The US government has a directory that contains a wide array of grants intended for women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Artists can sometimes be viewed as disadvantaged in society, especially if you’re an aspirant artist. It’s not easy to make a name for yourself in art, especially if you don’t have anyone you know in the art industry who can give you a job or are financially constrained to buy art equipment and tools. Grants intended for artists are enough as a starting ground to grow and expand their art exhibition across the nation, and they can help attend a residency, rent a house or theater, purchase art equipment, etc.