Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment

Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment is sponsored by Center for Cultural Innovation. Awards grants to individual craft artists for purchasing tools and equipment to support their work.

:: CCI :: Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment :: Unfettering Artists' Productivity and Impact KEEP UPDATED ON CCI HAPPENINGS! Funding > Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment Learn about the 2025 Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment Grantees!

The Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment program will award grants of $1,000–$5,000 to individual craft artists to purchase artistic tools and equipment that support their ability to make object-based work. This program is open to individual craft artists, folk and traditional artists, and craftspeople in the United States and its Territories, with geographic eligibility rotating over the 2024–2026 funding cycle.

The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) established the Investing in Artists grant portfolio in 2007 to enhance the working lives of and strengthen the creative support system for California artists working in all disciplines.

From 2007–2011, and with the support of the James Irvine Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Investing in Artists awarded grants to individual artists across disciplines to acquire tools and equipment, produce new work, and develop plans for marketing and presenting creative work.

In 2024, with the partnership of the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, CCI revived Investing in Artists’ support of tools and equipment, with a new focus on the disciplines of both craft and folk, and traditional arts, and with expanded geographic eligibility across the U.S. and its Territories. Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment will award funding through a competitive grant application process.

Competitive applicants will present a clear request, demonstrate a sustained commitment to their craft discipline, and illustrate how funding will provide linchpin support, such as enabling the artist to meet demand, address safety requirements or other regulations, replace outdated or damaged equipment, or reach a higher standard of quality or craftsmanship. A total of $60,000 is available in the 2026 funding round.

To be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria: Identify as an individual working craft artist 1 . Align with CCI’s definition of craft 2 .

For the 2026 Round: Eligible applicants must reside full-time in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, or Virginia.

In 2024, funding was available to craftspeople residing full-time in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

In 2025, funding was available to craftspeople residing full-time in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Presented artistic work in a public context —including online/digital platforms—within the last three years (i.e., since 2023). Are 18 years or older at the time of the application deadline.

1 For the purposes of this program, eligible “working craft artists” are defined as adults who are self-taught or have received training in an artistic discipline or tradition such as through an apprenticeship, trade school, undergraduate or graduate program, spend ten or more hours a week on their artwork, self-define as professional artists, and attempt to derive income from work in which they use their expert artistic practices and skills.

While serious artistic activity performed as a hobby or as part of volunteer community service may, in some cases, be considered technically eligible, successful applicants will have demonstrated a history of artistic accomplishment and a sustained commitment to deepening and expanding their artistic practice.

2 CCI uses the definition of craft put forth by the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) , which describes craft as the creation of original objects by the skillful manipulation of materials.

While objects may be created from traditional (clay, fiber, metal, wood, glass) or non-traditional materials (concrete, plastic, synthetic fibers, recycled materials) and be functional or nonfunctional, both types derive part of their meaning from their association with traditional functional forms such as chairs, vessels, garments, or implements and/or their association with cultural tradition.

See the Guidelines and FAQs for additional information.

The following applicants/requests are ineligible for funding consideration: Artist collectives, coops, or collaboratives; Nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations; Recipients of the Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft, administered by United States Artists; Incomplete applications and those with inaccessible work samples or other required files; Full-time or matriculating students; Applicants who submit more than one application; Requests to support training in or experimentation with a new medium; Requests for routine art materials or supplies; Requests for fixed costs (e.g., studio rent, equipment/tool insurance or ongoing maintenance, utilities); Requests to support capital improvements or repairs, purchases made before the award of the grant, consultant fees, personal compensation, or payment of debts, credit cards, loans, or other financial responsibilities; and Applicants who have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of CCI or the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

May 21 from 9:00–10:00 a. m. PT Register Here Note: If you were unable to attend, email us to access the session's recording and presentation deck!

June 3 from 9:00-10:00 a. m. PT Register Here June 15 from 11:00 a.

m. –12:00 p. m.

PT Register Here June 25 from 1:00–2:00 p. m. PT Register Here Note: T hese are not formal presentations, nor will they be recorded.

Office Hours are an opportunity to have your questions addressed by CCI staff in real time. We ask that you review the grant guidelines, application preview, and Frequently Asked Questions in advance to ensure everyone's time is used efficiently. (see time conversion below) June 26 at 11:59 a.

m. (morning) PT September 10 by 5:00 p. m.

PT September 2026–September 2027 *In Year Three (2026) of Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment, we are welcoming applicants from 17 States that span three t ime zones. The table below displays the day, date, and time of the application deadline depending on your location. Application Preview Application Preview Frequently Asked Questions Sample Project Budget Template Applications open May 19, 2026 at 9:00 a.

m. PT. CCI staff are here to help!

For questions about the grant guidelines or application, email us at grants@cciarts. org (include “IA: Tools & Equipment” in the subject line) or call 213. 870.

7129. You may also schedule a time to speak here . Deaf applicants and those with hearing loss can contact CCI using the California Relay Service .

Our staff are trained in making and receiving these calls. If you need technical assistance (e.g., password or upload issues), request support at https://www. submittable.

com/help/submitter/ . Submittable’s business hours are 9 am–5 pm MT. They aim to respond within 24 business hours.

The Investing in Artist: Tools & Equipment grant program is made possible with support from: CCI is now working remotely! For the quickest response, please email us at info@cciarts. org .

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