2021 New Work Project Grants

The Harpo Foundation welcomes Letters of Inquiry for its 2021 New Work Project Grants program. Through the program, grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations in support of new work by underrecognized artists age 21 years or older.

CRITERIA
Applications are evaluated on the basis of the quality of the artist’s work, the potential to expand aesthetic inquiry, and its relationship to the foundation’s priority to provide support to visual artists who are under-recognized by the field.

FUNDING DECISIONS
Funding decisions are made by the Board of Directors, following review of applications by independent professional advisors. Awards are made of up to $10,000. The number of awards is determined each year by the annual granting budget. Project grant funds must be used for costs in direct support of new work by the proposed artist, including artist honorarium. All projects funded during the 2020 funding cycle should be completed by September 2022. Projects that are scheduled in 2021 but happen prior to the foundation’s notification date may be eligible for funding on a retroactive basis.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY
* Tax exempt 501©(3) organizations.
* Presenting venues and hosting organizations may only submit one application a year.
* Fiscal sponsors may submit proposals on behalf of more than one artist a year.
* Institutions in countries outside of the United States are eligible but if awarded must be prepared to supply the foundation with a legal affidavit written in English qualifying its tax exempt activities and structure.
* To curtail redundant applications, Organizations must notify artists they plan to propose in their New Work Project Grant applications. If an artist intends to apply for a Direct Artist grant, the organization should not submit a proposal on behalf of that artist.

PROPOSALS
The foundation considers proposals that directly support the production of new work by visual artists and/or collaborative teams who are under-recognized by the field. This production may happen in the context of an installation, public intervention, residency, or exhibition.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
A report detailing how funds were used is due within 10-months of receiving funds.

Application Instructions

Step One: Submit a Letter-of-Inquiry online. The deadline to submit a Letter-of-Inquiry for the 2021 grant cycle is April 23, 2021. The online application is available here.

Step Two: Applicants who advance to step two will be invited to submit a full proposal by June 18, 2021.

To apply, a $15 application fee is required. Fees are applied to grant administration and program development.

NOTIFICATION
Grant decisions are usually announced no later than December 1.

QUESTIONS
Visit the questions page or address other questions to the Director by emailing Julie Deamer at jdeamer@harpofoundation.org