Best Grants for Visual Artists

The Ho'ākea Source Grant supports the Pu'uhonua Society by promoting projects that honor the perspectives of Hawai'i residents. With funding between $2,000 and $10,000, totaling $90,000 for the 2024-2025 cycle, the grant prioritizes visual artists and collaboratives based on criteria of place, relationship-building, and transformative change. Applications from historically marginalized communities are particularly encouraged, fostering a more inclusive future for all of Hawai‘i.

South Arts, Inc. offers Professional Development Grants for Arts Organizations to enhance the skills and knowledge of Southern arts entities. These grants aim to support operational stability and growth, focusing on organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. Eligible applicants include a range of arts organizations within South Arts' nine-state service area. The program emphasizes first-time opportunities and requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match, ensuring a commitment to professional development in the arts.

Saratoga Arts offers Community Art Grants to fund projects that engage the community and promote direct interaction with art. Grants range from $1,000 to $7,500, supporting diverse programming that fosters inclusivity and collaboration among artists and organizations. With a commitment to enhancing cultural quality, these grants aim to reach rural and economically disadvantaged populations, ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. Applications are accepted annually, with a focus on innovative approaches to public engagement.

About Wavemaker Grants

WaveMaker at Locust Projects supports Miami’s visionary artists with INCUBATOR grants for innovative PROJECTS that  are shared with the public in Unconventional Spaces.

All projects must engage or be shared with the public in unconventional spaces in Miami-Dade County. This may include exhibitions, performances, events, workshops, screenings, programming at alternative or artist-run-spaces. Projects can not be presented at art museums or commercial galleries.

Criteria

All proposals will be considered based on criteria including but not limited to:

• Overall idea, vision, and artistic innovation
• Relevance to the local social, cultural, and/or geographic context
• Accessibility of the project to the public outside of a museum or gallery
• In person gatherings in free, publicly accessible spaces are an essential requirement.
• Capacity of the applicant to realize the project on time and within budget
• Potential impact on the local community, the arts and culture landscape, and/or the artist’s growth

Grant Categories:

Each year, WaveMaker at Locust Projects awards a total of $60,000 in grant funding to artists across Miami-Dade County in the following three categories:

New Work / Projects

• Grants up to $6,000 each to support the creation and presentation of visionary, artist-driven new work / projects.   

Long-Haul Projects

• Grants up to $6,000 each to support launching, sustaining, or completing long-term projects. This category recognizes the time and commitment required to pursue long-term artistic endeavors.

R&D + Implementation

• Grants up to $2,000 each to support research and development for ambitious new projects that take creative risks or benefit from a longer planning period. After the R&D phase, grantees are encouraged to submit a short-form proposal for an additional $4,000 to implement their projects.

The Visual Arts Fund (VAF), established by Midway Contemporary Art with support from The Andy Warhol Foundation, offers $60,000 in grants for artist-organized projects in the Twin Cities metro area. This initiative encourages diverse visual arts projects with public engagement components, including exhibitions, performances, and digital initiatives. The program emphasizes innovative projects that might not otherwise occur, fostering a vibrant artistic community while adhering to specific eligibility criteria.

The Kindling Fund Grant, managed by SPACE Gallery, supports Maine-based artists with project grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,000. The fund emphasizes artistic collaboration and community engagement. Individual artists, collectives, and art organizers can apply, provided projects occur within a year. Notably, applicants with previous significant funding from the Kindling Fund or SPACE, as well as those outside Maine, are ineligible. This initiative fosters creative endeavors that resonate with local audiences.

The Luminary's Futures Fund Grant supports innovative artistic projects in St. Louis, offering funding between $2,500 and $8,000. Launched in 2019 as part of the Andy Warhol Foundation's Regional Regranting Program, it aims to resource local artists and small collectives during a time of diminishing funding. The program emphasizes projects that engage communities and push creative boundaries, contributing to the cultural vitality of the region while fostering new models for arts organizing and collaboration.

THRIVE Grants provide up to $10,000 to support innovative, artist-led visual arts projects in Oklahoma. These grants encourage impactful initiatives that engage the community and push traditional exhibition boundaries. Projects must be open to the public and occur within the funding period. The program, in partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation, emphasizes collaboration and creativity, prioritizing new projects that have not previously received funding.

The Satellite Fund Grants, managed by SPACES and supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation, offer Cuyahoga County residents, including emerging artists and curators, the chance to create public visual art projects. This initiative emphasizes accessibility and broad participation, ensuring diverse representation. In addition to funding, grantees gain access to workshops and professional development opportunities, enhancing their artistic capabilities and community engagement.

ABOUT THE IDEA FUND

The Idea Fund is a re-granting program administered by DiverseWorks in partnership with Aurora Picture Show and Project Row Houses and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Since 2009, The Idea Fund has provided grants for artist-generated or artist-centered projects that exemplify unconventional, interventionist, conceptual, entrepreneurial, participatory, or guerrilla artistic practices.

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program, launched in 2007, aims to support vibrant, under-the-radar and self-organized artistic activity by partnering with leading cultural institutions in communities across the country. The program reaches a sizable population of informal, non-incorporated artist collectives, and supports their alternative gathering spaces, publications, websites, events, and other projects. Together, this network of programs has funded more than 800 artist projects.4

Project activities must function primarily within, or have a strong connection to the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, social practice, performance, film/video, photography, textiles, ceramics, cross-disciplinary, public art, new media, and digital processes etc.) 

About

The mission of the Snapdragon Fund is to support community-centered, artist organized projects of high artist merit. The fund seeks proposals with visual arts at the root which engage and explore a wide variety of media, including but not limited to: performance, new + digital media (photo, film, sound, games), publishing, craft work, archives, and installation.

Snapdragon projects are ideally critical of art, its relationship to gentrification, displacement, and the state, and thoughtfully approach racial, disability, and queer justice. Additionally, the Snapdragon Team will be pushing for an increase in proposals from collaborative teams.

The Snapdragon Fund believes in North Carolinian artists’ abilities to cultivate collective, forward moving, radical creative practices. We believe the South has always been a site of transformative artistic development and leadership and the Snapdragon Fund seeks to support work that demonstrates this historic capacity. 

The Sinew Fund Grants, supported by Racing Magpie, empower Oceti Sakowin visual creatives in the U.S. to engage their communities through innovative, artist-led projects. Focused on the rich cultural heritage of Lakota communities, these grants foster collaborative, community-based initiatives that enhance cultural dialogue and creative expression. Eligible applicants must be connected to an Oceti Sakowin tribe and aim for projects that prioritize public engagement within current-day Western South Dakota.

The Joyce Peugh Pate Capper Charitable Trust Grant supports charitable initiatives in Fort Worth, Texas, with a focus on the performing and visual arts, libraries, churches, and hospitals. Established by philanthropist Joyce Peugh Pate Capper, the trust prioritizes organizations active during her lifetime. Eligible applicants must operate within Tarrant County, while grants are not awarded for animal-related causes. This grant fosters community enrichment and cultural development in the region.

The J.R. Simplot Company Foundation Grant supports U.S. non-profit organizations focused on art, education, youth, community, and global food and agriculture. Established in 1929, the foundation is committed to enhancing community welfare through creative cultural endeavors, educational initiatives, health services, and youth programs. Applications are reviewed quarterly, ensuring a timely response to organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities.

The Nexus Fund: Regional Regranting Program, supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, seeks innovative project proposals from individual artists or collaborations in the Metro Atlanta region. The fund emphasizes risk-taking and experimentation, awarding ten grants of $6,000 each, totaling $60,000. Projects must benefit local communities, adhere to public health guidelines, and be completed by September 30, 2025. Preference is given to multi-disciplinary and socially engaging proposals that address diverse audiences.

The DCLA Premier Grants provide vital support to first-time applicants, including individual artists and community organizations on Staten Island. These grants focus on projects that foster public engagement and enhance cultural programming across diverse artistic disciplines. Eligible applicants must demonstrate community interest, clear objectives, and a realistic plan for implementation. Priority is given to projects that address under-resourced communities or artistic disciplines, ensuring equitable access to funding and cultural production opportunities.

The DCLA Art Fund Grants, offered by Staten Island Arts, support individual artists and collectives in creating culturally significant work. Open to all artistic disciplines, projects must include a public component. Emphasizing community engagement, the grants prioritize under-resourced disciplines and communities. With funding from the Greater New York Arts Development Fund, these grants aim to enhance cultural programming and education, fostering a vibrant arts scene on Staten Island.

The NYSCA Encore Grants are designed to support returning Staten Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in presenting significant artistic and cultural programming across various disciplines. Eligible projects must focus on cultural expression and be accessible to the community, emphasizing artistic significance and addressing under-resourced disciplines. The grant is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts and aims to enhance local cultural production and community engagement.

The Arts Education Grant Program, managed by Community Foundation Sonoma County, aims to enhance equitable access to high-quality arts education in Sonoma County. It supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits that empower students through visual, literary, and performing arts, helping them develop creativity and critical thinking skills. This initiative addresses disparities in arts education access, ensuring that all students can create, share, and reflect on their artistic endeavors, fostering community engagement and personal growth.

The Arts Curricular Innovation Grants (ACIG) and Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Grants aim to enhance arts education in South Carolina. The initiative supports schools in developing arts programs that significantly boost student achievement across dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. By 2030, the goal is for 75% of students to perform at or above grade level, ensuring every student is prepared for their future endeavors.

The Idaho Commission on the Arts offers January 2026 Fellowships to support Idaho artists and writers in their pursuit of artistic excellence. This program promotes public awareness of the arts while recognizing outstanding contributions to the cultural landscape. Eligible applicants must be practicing artists or writers, at least 18 years old, and Idaho residents for a year prior to the deadline. The fellowships enhance community engagement and foster creative expression across various disciplines, including visual and traditional arts.

The Kentucky Crafted Program supports Kentucky's visual and craft artists by offering marketing assistance, promotional opportunities, and arts business training. This program allows eligible artists to showcase their work at various events, including the Kentucky Crafted Market. Its goals include promoting high-quality craftsmanship and enhancing the state's reputation as a center for exceptional art. Participants benefit from a recognized logo, access to online directories, and professional development opportunities.

The Fleishhacker Foundation's Small Arts Grants program offers vital support to filmmakers in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. This initiative is dedicated to assisting small and mid-sized arts organizations, providing unrestricted funding for film projects in the post-production phase. Eligible filmmakers must demonstrate prior funding and secure a fiscal sponsor or a nonprofit production company. Projects must have a budget under $750,000, with the next review cycle set for fall 2025.

The Fleishhacker Foundation offers Small Arts Grants to support small and mid-sized arts organizations in the Bay Area. These grants are designed for fiscally sponsored organizations, allowing them to access funding without traditional nonprofit status. Eligible applicants must meet specific budgetary requirements and demonstrate alignment with the foundation's mission. The program emphasizes support for historically marginalized artists and communities, ensuring that diverse artistic voices are represented in the cultural landscape.

The Miller Foundation offers Arts Grants to support small organizations in Oregon, providing vital funding for artistic programming and operations. These grants enhance community engagement through visual and performing arts, ensuring that arts education is accessible to all children. With a focus on operating support, the foundation aims to strengthen local arts organizations, enriching Oregon's cultural landscape. Eligible entities include 501(c)(3) organizations and public entities dedicated to arts and education, fostering creative growth statewide.

The Miller Foundation supports arts organizations in Oregon through its Fast Track grants, which fund vital artistic programming, performances, and arts education. These grants prioritize operating support, enabling organizations to thrive and connect communities through the arts. The Foundation believes in the transformative power of arts education, ensuring access for all youth. Eligible applicants include established nonprofits and public entities dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Oregon.