Artist Grant Program is a grant from Create Wisconsin that funds individual artists and creative communities across Wisconsin. Supported by the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, this statewide program bolsters community vibrance by directly supporting individual artistic vision, community-based projects, and the well-being of Wisconsin's cultural ecosystems.

Special consideration is given to applicants from counties with populations under 55,000, with up to 35% of funding reserved for rural areas. Eligible applicants are visual and performing artists aged 21 or older residing in any of Wisconsin's 72 counties. Awards range from $5,000 to $10,000, with no matching funds required.

Statewide Artist Grant – Create Wisconsin Supporting Individuals & Communities The support creative Wisconsinites With the support and partnership of the Ruth Foundation for the Arts , the Create Wisconsin Statewide Artist Grant Program provides opportunities to support the work of creative individuals and communities across the state. We recognize the critical importance the arts have to Wisconsin’s communities and culture.

This grant seeks to bolster that community vibrance by directly supporting individual vision and creativity. When are applications due? The application portal will close on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

This program is open to creative individuals aged 21 and older residing in any of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Special consideration will be given to applicants from counties with populations under 55,000, with up to 35% of the funding directed toward these areas. Eligible applicants include visual and performing artists with demonstrated creative ability and professional achievement.

Background Description : A description of you and your work overall (max 500 words). Project Expenses: Please give us an idea of what you will spend the money on, including elements such as honoraria or administrative costs, costs of materials and facilities, and payments to contractors, if applicable. No matching funds are required – in other words, you do not have to have funds from other sources to be eligible for the grant.

Up to 10 images or video files may be submitted. Preferred image format: JPG, PNG. Preferred video format: mp4.

Maximum file size: 5GB (large files may be zipped if needed). Please label your images with FIRST and LAST NAME-#number (i.e., JON SNOW-#1) Project Proposal : Provide a description of the artistic enrichment or community-based initiative for which funding is requested (max 500 words). Applicants may apply in one category only.

If applying for an individual artistic enrichment project , describe the opportunity and the short-term and long-term benefits for creative growth. If applying for a community-based project , explain your background in producing these types of projects, how the project will benefit the community, and what kind of community involvement you have already developed and will develop during the project.

The statewide panel of jurors will be announced in the near future. Awards will be announced to the recipients and publicly by March 31, 2026. Click here to review the Submission Guide Can nonprofit organizations apply?

We appreciate your ideas, but these grants are meant to support the work of individuals, so we’re not accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies. If I receive a grant, how will I get the money?

We can pay the grant amount to an individual (which means you’ll pay individual taxes on that amount) or to a business if you are a self-employed creative worker with an LLC business designation (which means your business will count the award as business income). We are not able to pay the award to a nonprofit organization or government agency. How will I know if you've received my application?

You will receive an email confirmation via the email provided on the form. The email will come from “Airtable Automations. ” If you do not receive an email within 24 hours and it is not in your spam folder, please contact Hailey Fuller ( [email protected] ) What if I want to make edits/revisions to my application, but I've already submitted one?

Please make sure your application information is fully complete at the time of submission. Due to the large number of proposals we have received, we are unable to modify details or add materials after applications are submitted. Submissions with contact information errors will receive email communication about revising incorrect or incomplete information.

Who can I contact if my questions are not answered by the submission guide? Our program administrator, Hailey Fuller ( [email protected] ), can answer questions regarding the program, submission form, or any technical difficulties you may experience during your application process. Prospective applicants with questions regarding project proposals or ideas will be directed to review the submission guide.

Can I submit more than one proposal for different projects? We appreciate all the applicants’ great ideas, but only one application per individual , in one of the two categories , will be accepted. This ensures that all applicants have the same chance.