Funding Sources for Artists: Competitions, Grants, and Awards

It has never been easy to find funding in any field, much less the humanities.  I’ve compiled a list of potential sources of funding for artists.  The list will be updated as deadlines expire and new opportunities arise.

¡ I can’t vouch for the validity of any of these opportunities so make sure you do your research!

• Creative Capacity Fund Offers Professional Development Grants for Artists and Arts Organizations in San Francisco and Los Angeles Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to arts administrators and individual artists in the Bay Area and Los Angeles pursuing professional development activities….
  Deadline: Monthly
  Posted: May 20, 2010
• Haitian Memorial Foundation Invites Pierre Toussaint Art and Essay Entries Project budgets of up to $500,000 will be awarded to artists, sculptors, or high school students for their artwork, sculpture, or essays depicting a solid understanding and appreciation of Pierre Toussaint and his achievements….
  Deadline: Various
• National Geographic All Roads Film Project Offers Seed Grants for Indigenous Storytellers
  Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to filmmakers for the development and production of a film or video that showcases indigenous or underrepresented minority-culture storytellers….
  Deadline: Quarterly
  Posted: December 2, 2009
• Arts Midwest Announces Guidelines for 2010-2011 Performing Arts Fund Grants Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to presenting organizations in the Arts Midwest region to support state touring of professional performing artists, including public performances and in-depth educational activities….
  Deadline: Beginning March 24, 2010, Until Funds Depleted
  Posted: October 22, 2009 
• Bush Artist Fellowship Program Invites Applications From Artists in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Fifteen artists will receive grants of $48,000 each as well as $2,000 to develop a communications strategy to further their work and foster community dialogue….
  Deadline: Various
  Posted: August 12, 2009
• New York Foundation for the Arts Offers Discounted Office Space to Artists and Arts Organizations The new program offers affordable workspace to NYFA-affiliated artists and organizations working in various genres; once accepted into the program, participants can rent at $200 a month or $550 for three months on a renewable cycle….
  Deadline: Rolling
  Posted: June 10, 2009
• New York Foundation for the Arts Accepting Applications for Artists’ Fellowships Fellowships of $7,000 will be awarded to New York artists working in the disciplines of poetry, printmaking/drawing/book arts, nonfiction literature, sculpture, crafts, digital/electronic arts, and film…..
  Deadline: Various
  Posted: August 25, 2008

The above links came from the Foundation Center’s Website: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml   They compile lists of potential funding sources for artists.

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Check out the National Endowment for the Arts website for funding opportunities.

The New York Foundation for the Arts is a great resource for working artists and they offer some funding opportunities as well.

The National Endowment for the Humanities is a good resource.

A great centralized source for art competitions and shows that you can submit your work to is Artshow.com.

Sponsume is a non-traditional funding platform which uses social media to promote your work and receive funding through viral efforts.

EBSQ Art is a site that allows self representing artists to create an online presence.  They also have a listing of exhibition opportunities.  Thanks, Sherry K. , for the recommendation.  posted June 14th

I came across The Art List today and it looks like a pretty good site although some of the features aren’t free.  It has listings of exhibits and competitions for artists. posted June 15, 2010.

Art Deadline has listings of grants, exhibits, competitions, and a host of other opportunities. posted June 15, 2010.

If you happen to be a Californian artist, the California Arts Council may be a good resource.

Be sure to check out your local resources.  Galleries, city or state cultural offices, as well as museums and private source funding are available.  Also, many college art departments have exhibition opportunities or contests.  Sweat equity pays off when searching for funding opportunities.