Artist Funding Sources (organized alphabetically)

The following listings are provided as a service of Art-Speak, in partnership with the Partnership for Effective Non-Profits, and although every effort is made to provide accurate information all information should be verified before submitting a proposal. 

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace offers the $15,000 professional grant to enable a photographer to have the financial ability to produce a substantial picture story that furthers the foundation's goals of promoting world peace and cultural understanding. The award will go to a photojournalist who can further cultural understanding and world peace by conceiving and writing a concise, focused, and meaningful story proposal.

Art Deadlines List provides a listing of arts grants, fellowships, competitions, and funding opportunity announcements.  

The Artists' Fellowship, Inc. assists professional fine artists (painters, graphic artists, sculptors) and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement.

Artist's Resource Trust (A.R.T.) Fund-Applicants should be mid-career individual visual artists living in New England and nonprofit organizations that wish to commission new work or purchase existing works by mid-career artists living in New England. Grants range from $3,000 - $10,000.

Arts International's Artists' Exploration Fund provides financial assistance for individual performing artists to pursue opportunities abroad that further their artistic development. Grants support various activities including development of relationships with artists and art organizations, research of significant artistic expression, participation in international conferences and seminars, or creation of new work. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. The Fund does not support travel costs related to touring. Eligible expenses include international and in-country travel, food and lodging, and other essential costs. Travel to any country outside the United States is eligible. Applicants must be individual performing artists who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applications will not be accepted from students, scholars, curators, presenters, administrators, and critics. See web page for guidelines.

American Craft Council makes grants to arts organizations for projects that advance understanding and appreciation of craft. They also make grants to individual emerging artists in all craft media. 

The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards are granted annually to encourage talented young jazz composers. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have not reached their 30th birthday by December 31st. Applicants must submit a completed application form; the notated score of one composition; biographical information listing prior music studies, background and experience. Applicants must also submit a cassette or CD of the composition submitted, if available.  

Creative Capital supports innovative artists with funding and technical assistance. 

The Creative Connections Program (formerly Meet The Composer Fund) provides support for composers to actively engage in performances of their music, putting a human face on the creative process for millions of audience members across the country. Support (up to $5,000) is intended to enable composers to undertake more substantial projects, and to build stronger and longer-term relationships with presenters. 

The Roy W. Dean Grant program offer awards annually to short films, documentaries and other projects that are unique and benefit society. Website also includes resources about getting funding for film.

Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc. provides small grants ($500-$1500) to individual feminist women in the arts whose work in some way focuses upon women. Limited to art, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.  For more information write to:  Susan Pliner, Administrator, Money for Women, Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, PO Box 630125, Bronx, NY 10463.  

Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts offers grants of $2500 - $12,000 for professional artists who demonstrate professional achievement and commitment to career; work primarily in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking (no photo, film, video, performance, or crafts); are 30 years or older by the application deadline or, if under 30, have been working for at least six years since completion of formal schooling; have a financial need that is inhibiting the production or recognition of their art; Have a clear and specific plan for using the grant funds.  For more information write to:  Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, P O Box 2670, New York, NY, 10108.

Ensemble Theatre Travel Subsidy Program grants of up to $2,000 to theatre directors, producers, presenters, managers, artists and agents to see work by ensemble theatre companies who have initiated a dialogue with them about a long-term partnership. Artistic, production, education, publicity or marketing staff at ensemble theatre companies are also eligible for funds to visit a potential host theatre or arts presenter in order to effectively prepare for an engagement at least 6-12 months in advance.

Alex J. Ettl Grant from the National Sculpture Society is a $4,000 prize open to U.S. figurative or realist sculptors.  

Richard Florsheim Art Fund for established artists over 60 helps pay for exhibits, catalogs, or purchase by non-profits. Grants of $1000 - 20,000. Contact August L. Freundlich, President, Richard Florsheim Fund, 4202 E Fowler Ave, USF 30637, Tampa, FL 33620. Telephone: 813-949-6886.

Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts, Inc. awards grants between $500-$3,000 to individual artists working in paint. All applicants must be professional artists and 25 years of age or older. The foundation will not accept applications from commercial artists, and does not make grants for students or to fund academic studies. October 1 deadline.

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation offers two grants for painters, printmakers and sculptors: 1) Individual support grant- 20 yrs mature phase of art. 2) Emergency assistance grant- 10 yrs mature, victim of catastrophic incident such as fire, flood, or medical emergency. No Geographical restrictions.   

Graham Foundation grants are offered to individuals and institutions in support of activities focused on architecture and the built environment; generally activities that lead to the public dissemination of ideas through publication, exhibition, or educational programming. 

Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation aids talented young artists in the early stages of their careers. Awards are limited to candidates working in the following: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture.

Guggenheim Foundation awards fellowships to creative artists (artists, playwrights, filmmakers, photographers, composers, or the like) so they can engage in the creation of arts under the freest possible conditions. 

Gunk Foundation Grants for Public Art Projects challenge the market-dominated system of art production and move art out of the market and into the "public realm." The Foundations supports projects that make it out of the museum, gallery, and alternative spaces and into the spaces of daily life. Grants are provided for "works" of art (not, for example, art festivals, group exhibitions or general operating support for public art organizations). They do not fund art education, art therapy, mural projects, community gardens, restoration projects, architectural design projects, traditional commemorative sculpture/painting, traditional theater projects or documentary film. Nor do they fund video, film, or music unless it has been specifically earmarked for a non-traditional public space. Anyone can apply, including individuals, groups, or organizations and there is no need for a fiscal sponsor. The average grant is $1,000, the maximum $5,000. Deadlines for applications are April 30 and October 31. Multiple project applications can be submitted.

James Jones First Novel Fellowship seeks first American novel in progress (unpublished) for the Annual James Jones First Novel Fellowship.

Christopher Isherwood Foundation's Fellowships for Fiction Writing offers $3,000 grants intended to allow authors sufficient time to set aside for writing. Fellowships are available only to writers who have published at least one book of fiction or a collection of stories.

The LEF Moving Image Fund provides dedicated support to independent film and video artists in New England. The grantmaking is targeted toward the production of work. Artists interested in applying for project support must first submit a letter of intent.  

Maine Arts Commission (ME only) provides funding and other services for artists, arts organizations, and arts in schools through Maine. 

Maine Community Foundation (ME only) makes grants to Maine nonprofits, schools, and public agencies for projects that address a variety of community needs. The foundation also makes some grants to individuals, including writers and filmmakers. 

Michigan State University Libraries maintains a list of funding resources for musicians and composers.

Yvar Mikhashoff Trust For New Music offers s annual grants, gifts, awards and fellowships, generally ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, for tuition assistance, fellowships to further the professional status of younger performers and composers, and grants to musical ensembles, presenting organizations, music festivals, and recording companies.

New England Foundation for the Arts provides funding for touring artists and arts based community development projects. 

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation-Piscataqua Region's Artist Advancement Grant provides financial support to individual visual artists and craftspeople in the Piscataqua region to promote their artistic growth. Visual Artists and Craftspeople whose resume and body of work demonstrate a strong commitment to an artistic discipline are eligible to apply. Collaborating visual artists and craftspeople are also eligible to apply. The grant amount is between $15,000 and $30,000.

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts provides funding to New Hampshire artists and arts organizations and includes funding for the creation of new works, arts in education, arts in schools, arts in the community, arts advancement, and artist fellowships.  

Pollock Krasner Foundation provides financial assistance to visual artists who are painters, sculptors and artists who work on paper, including printmakers and who have genuine financial needs. 

Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation makes grants between $2,500-$15,000 to creative artists working in musical theater. The award can go toward the ongoing development of their work or to support a specific project. Winners will also have their bio profiled on the foundation's website. Recipients are chosen based primarily on talent, with secondary consideration given to financial concerns.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship - any poet of American birth who is able to spend one year outside the continent of North America may apply.

Princess Grace Awards is a national program dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging young artists in theater, dance, and film. Dance, theater and film students, in their last year of schooling or training, are eligible for tuition assistance through scholarships. Young artists working in a theater company qualify for apprenticeships and fellowships and young dancers in a company are eligible for fellowships. Playwriting fellowships are available for individual artists through a residency at New Dramatists in New York. Those who are nominated to receive grants must be recommended by professionals in their respective fields, such as school deans, department chairmen or artistic directors of theater or dance companies. 

The Puffin Foundation Ltd. makes grants that encourage emerging artists in the fields of art, music, theater, dance, photography, and literature whose works due to their genre and/or social philosophy might have difficulty being aired. Average grants are $1,000 - $2,500.

The George and Helen Segal Foundation has been established to exhibit and display the works of George Segal, a world-renowned sculptor and artist, and to award grants to artists in order to enable them to pursue their artistic endeavors. The Foundation offers grants for $5,000 and $10,000. Eligibility Requirements: Must be age 21 or over, No Students.  

Aaron Siskind Foundation grants are open to photographers using still-photography based media. Eligible to US citizens not currently enrolled in a degree granting program. Several grants of up to $5000 awarded annually to photographers based upon past accomplishments and the promise of future achievement. Funds must be used to support the artist's creative endeavors.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators offers several grants: General Work-In-Progress Grant, Grant for a Contemporary Novel for Young People, Nonfiction Research Grant, Grant for a Work Whose Author Has Never Had a Book Published. The Grants are available to both full and associate members of the SCBWI.  

George Sugarman Foundation provides grants for painters and sculptors in need of financial assistance (students are not eligible). Award amounts are open. Artist must provide a budget for the amount requested. Send an SASE for PROS to: George Sugarman Foundation, 448 Ignacio Blvd, Novato, CA 94949.

The Thatcher Hoffman Smith Prize is a biennial prize honoring the creative process, Creativity in Motion. This prize celebrates a visionary creative work in process, recognizing the power of original thought and expression in possibly enriching the world around us. The work or project must be under way at the time of application. This prize is open to all fields of creativity, including, but not limited to, the arts, cultural affairs, education and science. The award of $40,000 is available to U.S. citizens and can be used in any way the recipient chooses.

The Theatre Communications Group in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, annually selects six early directors and designers (costume, scenic, lighting and sound) to participate in the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors and Designers. Recipients are given the opportunity to spend six months over a two year period developing their skills through travel, research, observing and assisting. Program activity may also include directing or designing under the guidance of one or more designated mentors both nationally and internationally. Each recipient's program is hand-tailored and includes a $17,500 stipend distributed over the 6 month period spent on the program. 

Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation makes grants of $1,000 to $3,500 in support of individual playwrights (and other writers and artists) for specific projects. Criteria are merit and need. For more information write to: Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, P.O. Box 510, Shelter Island, NY 11964-0510.

The Xeric Foundation offers financial assistance to self-publishing comic book creators based in the US and Canada. Xeric grants can be used for the physical production and distribution of a comic book (printing, color separation, solicitation, and shipping). Any publication featuring art in a deliberate narrative sequence may be considered for comics with the format being entirely chosen by the submitting artist. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded.