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Program operates through confidential nomination only; applications and unsolicited nominations are not accepted. No deadline listed.
Grants to Artists is a grant program from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) that funds individual artists and collectives working in contemporary, experimental artistic practices across dance, music and sound, performance art and theater, poetry, and the visual arts. The program awards unrestricted grants of $45,000 to exceptional individuals or collectives identified through a confidential nomination and selection process.
Each year, FCA invites distinguished artists and arts professionals to nominate one exceptional artist they feel deserves and will benefit from recognition. Applications and unsolicited nominations are not accepted; artists must be nominated by invited nominators from their field.
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FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund Frequently Asked Questions Grants to Artists are administered by a confidential nomination and selection process. Applications and unsolicited nominations are not accepted. In addition to the below, please read the FAQs for more information.
FCA awards Grants to Artists in the following fields: dance, music/sound, performance art/theater, poetry, and the visual arts. Artists are suggested and selected by their peers in a two-stage process.
Each year, FCA invites dozens of distinguished artists and arts professionals to serve as nominators and propose one exceptional individual, collective, or performing group whom they feel deserves and will benefit from an unrestricted $45,000 award. Nominators are selected by field, but are free to propose artists working in any of the five areas supported. They are asked to remain anonymous.
A selection panel chooses grant recipients on the basis of the merit and imaginativeness of their work and the effect such recognition and support might have at this point in their careers. Although most artists who receive support live and work in the United States, grants may be awarded internationally.
The number of selections made in any of the five fields is determined by the strength of the candidates and FCA's resources in any given year. The grants are not designated for specific projects. Rather, they are intended to provide recipients with the financial means to engage in whatever artistic endeavors they wish to pursue, to research and develop ideas, embark on projects, and complete projects already under way.
At the end of the year, artists are asked to describe how the grant was used. The 2025 Grants to Artists awards are $45,000 each; learn more about the twenty-three 2025 Grants to Artists recipients .
The participating Directors of FCA were joined in the grant selection process by creator and director of performance Mallory Catlett (2015 FCA Grantee); choreographer, director, and educator nora chipaumire (2016 FCA Grantee); poet and essayist Marcella Durand (2021 FCA C. D.
Wright Awardee); curator and writer Allison Glenn; choreographer, dancer, and educator Mina Nishimura (2019 FCA Grantee); and composer and performer Nate Wooley (2016 FCA Grantee).
The following Grants to Artists awards are endowed or funded by artist foundations: John Cage Award (made biennially) Merce Cunningham Award (made biennially) Helen Frankenthaler Award for Painting Alvin Lucier Award for Music Richard Pousette-Dart Award (2023-2025) Robert Rauschenberg Award Cy Twombly Award for Poetry C. D.
Wright Award for Poetry 2016 grantee Tina Satter, performance still from FCA-supported Ghost Rings , at New York Live Arts, New York, 2016. Photo by Maria Baranova. 2017 grantee Adrienne Truscott, performance still from FCA-supported This , at New York Live Arts, New York, 2017.
Photo by Paul B. Goode. 2018 grantee EJ Hill, installation view of FCA-supported Excellent, Mollitia, Victoria, in Made in LA, at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, 2018.
Photo by Brian Forrest. 2016 grantee Jack Ferver, performance still from FCA-supported I Want You To Want Me , at The Kitchen, New York, 2016. Photo by 2013 grantee Paula Court.
Helen Frankenthaler Award for Painting, 2026 C. D. Wright Award for Poetry, 2026 Roy Lichtenstein Award, 2026 Cy Twombly Award for Poetry, 2026 Robert Rauschenberg Award, 2026 Dorothea Tanning Award, 2026
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Individual artists and collectives working in eligible artistic disciplines who demonstrate that their artistic practice falls within a contemporary, experimental nature. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Emergency Grants is a year-round grant program from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) that funds individual visual and performing artists facing sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present work publicly or unexpected expenses on projects near completion. The program supports contemporary, experimental artistic practices and covers projects in the U.S. and abroad. FCA receives approximately 100 applications monthly and awards 15-20 grants per month. Awards range from $500 to $3,000, with an average grant of $2,200. Eligible applicants are individual visual and performing artists and poets with a contemporary, experimental artistic practice who live and work anywhere in the United States.
Creative Research Grants is a grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) that funds artistic exploration and development for experimental artists and collectives. Launched in 2024, the program supports activities that enhance artistic practice, encourage new creative directions, realize cultural exchanges, initiate or deepen collaborations, and facilitate the learning of artistic forms and traditions—whether or not tied to a defined outcome or public presentation. Eligible artists work across disciplines including dance, music/sound, performance art/theater, poetry, and visual arts. Awards of $10,000 are granted for an 18-month period, supporting research, fieldwork, studio time, travel, material experimentation, and collaboration across disciplines and cultures.
An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2014 Grants for Arts Projects categories: Art Works or Challenge America Fast-Track. The Arts Endowment's support of a project may start on or after January 1, 2014 The Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development. This category encourages and supports the following two outcomes: Engagement: Engaging the public with diverse and excellent art. Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts. You will be asked to select the outcome that is most relevant to your project (you also will be able to select a secondary outcome). When making selections, you should identify the outcome(s) that reflect the results expected to be achieved by your project. If you receive a grant, you also will be asked to provide evidence of those results. Challenge America Fast-Track grants: Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below. Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match. Receive an expedited application review. Organizations are notified whether they have been recommended for a grant approximately six months after they apply; projects may start shortly thereafter. Funding Opportunity Number: 2013NEA01CAFT. Assistance Listing: 45.024. Funding Instrument: G. Category: AR. Award Amount: Up to $10K per award.
Sundance Documentary Fund is sponsored by Sundance Institute. The Sundance Documentary Fund provides stable funding for innovative nonfiction works that tackle today's pressing issues, magnify global voices, and help artists from historically marginalized communities. It supports feature-length documentaries (52 minutes or longer) at any production phase from development through post-production. The fund welcomes hybrid, animated, and experimental documentaries with budgets under $1 million.