Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts
Overview
The Foundation’s grantmaking activity is focused on serving the needs of artists by funding the institutions that support them. Grants are made for scholarly exhibitions at museums; curatorial research; visual arts programming at artist-centered organizations; artist residencies and commissions; arts writing; and efforts to promote the health, welfare and first amendment rights of artists.
Please Note: A very small percentage of grants are made to organisations based outside of the US. Organisations must submit a letter of inquiry before the deadline after which they may be invited to make a full application. If international projects have a US venue, provide opportunities for a broad network of underserved international artists, or undertake themes that have not been adequately engaged in the US, they will be more competitive.
Guidelines
The Foundation offers three types of grants—Curatorial Research Fellowships, Exhibition support, and multiyear program grants. We also serve the needs of artists through an invitational Regional Re-granting program and two ongoing Special Initiatives: Creative Capital and the Arts Writers Grant.
Grants are made on a project basis to curatorial programs at museums, artists’ organizations, and other cultural institutions to originate innovative and scholarly presentations of contemporary visual arts. Projects may include exhibitions, catalogues, and other organizational activities directly related to these areas. The program also supports the creation of new work through regranting initiatives and artist-in-residence programs. The foundation values the contributions of all artists, reflecting the true diversity of the contemporary art field, and encourages proposals that highlight women, artists of color, and under-represented practitioners.
The foundation believes that freedom of expression is a core principle of an open and enlightened democracy. It welcomes proposals from artist-centered organizations that share this belief, reject bigotry of any sort, and promote inclusive dialogue regarding social, political, cultural, and economic issues affecting not only artists but all people.
Special Initiatives
Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, gatherings, and career development services. It seeks to amplify the voices of artists working in all creative disciplines and catalyze connections to help them realize their visions and build sustainable practices.
Administered through Creative Capital, and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Arts Writers Grant provides funding to established and emerging writers to publish original ideas, research, or criticism that pertains to contemporary visual art. Grants are awarded for scholarly work leading to essays, articles, books, and other digital and print publications.