he Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists is an annual $10,000 grant awarded to provide critical support to Black trans women whose work has often been under-recognized in the visual art field. Now in its 5th year, the Illuminations Grant was developed and named in partnership with Mariette Pathy Allen, Aaryn Lang, and Serena Jara. Winning artists and finalists will receive additional professional development resources and further guidance to bolster their creative development in the field.

“The Illuminations Grant not only highlights the lacking representation of Black trans women in the visual arts,” says Lang, “but also seeks to confront the systemic barriers that deny them artistic opportunities and a sustainable craft. By supporting this grant, Mariette Pathy Allen challenges herself and the art industry to see Black trans women as more than mere subjects, while forging a new pathway for visual artists within this community to thrive.”

The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists, a $10,000 grant, supports visual artists who are Black trans women. This grant is made possible entirely through support provided by visual artist Mariette Pathy Allen, whose body of photographic work over the last forty years has been squarely focused on expanding cultural consciousness around gender and transformation. The development of this grant was stewarded by consultant and writer Aaryn Lang, working in collaboration with Mariette Pathy Allen, Serena Jara, and Queer|Art. In order to further recognize finalists for their artistic achievements, Queer|Art is pleased to announce that the grant will also provide a $1,250 award to four distinguished finalists.

The llluminations Grant is administered through Queer|Art with a rotating panel of judges, each of whom will conduct a studio visit with the winning artist as part of the award’s focus on supporting creative and professional development. Judges for the 2025 grant cycle include Legacy Russell, Jordyn Jay, and Lee Laa Ray Guillory. Queer|Art staff will also provide the winning artist and finalists with consultations and further access to many of the tools they have developed in conjunction with the organization’s cornerstone creative and professional development program, Queer|Art|Mentorship.

Qualified artists must be Black trans women working in visual art and based in the United States. Applications are open March 31, 2025–July 2, 2025.

For questions, email Queer|Art Design & Marketing Manager, Andrius Alvarez-Backus at [email protected].

APPLICATIONS OPEN - MARCH 31st, 2025
COMPLETE APPLICATION - JULY 2nd, 2025

What information does the application require?

• Contact info, narrative bio, and headshot
• Demographic information
• One sentence description of your artistic practice
• Two short essay questions on your artistic practice
• 2 references that can speak to your practice
• CV
• Work samples (12 samples maximum, details below)

Work Sample Specifications:

Choose from any of the following formats to upload work samples that best represent your practice.

Allowed Media Types:

• Images (up to 10MB each)
• Video (up to 500MB each)
• PDFs (up to 20MB each)
• External media from YouTube, Vimeo and SoundCloud

Images do not have to be a particular size, as SlideRoom's servers will process them to fit their system. Their processors will resize anything larger than 1280 x 1280 x 72 ppi to fit within those limitations.

Image file formats accepted: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, .tga
Video file formats accepted: .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, .mkv

Please include title, medium, year, and brief description of each work sample.

Note: Application fees for all applicants have been waived.

For more information and to apply, please visit here.

Black women founders are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs out of any throughout history. These founders are best equipped to solve some of the world’s largest unmet needs, and have a legacy of reinvesting in their communities and creating intergenerational wealth. However, Black women entrepreneurs are met with the greatest barriers to accessing capital.

This perpetual systemic discrimination, the unwillingness & inability of Silicon Valley and venture capitalists to effectively diversify their investments, the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on entrepreneurs of color, and generations of inequities against Black people are absolutely inexcusable.

SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs.

Awardees will also receive tactical help navigating the fundraising environment at large so that they will have a more equitable opportunity at scaling the next billion dollar idea. They will also receive lifetime “ask-me-anything” access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams. We know this is a small start, and we are hopeful that it will grow. We believe in a brighter future where the next world changing business does not go unrealized because of systemic discrimination.

To qualify, you should:

– self-identify as a Black woman or Black nonbinary entrepreneur (inclusive of multiracial Black women and multiracial Black nonbinary folks)

– have a legally registered business

– plan to seek investor financing in order to scale, now or in the future

– have a scalable, high-impact solution or idea with the ambition to be the next billion dollar business.

Deadline: Rolling

To apply, click here.

Grants for individual Native artists and culture bearers who are in need of quick financial assistance for an artistic opportunity, emergency situation and/or sudden unanticipated expense related to their art practice or business.

KEY INFORMATION

Grant amount: $100-$1,000

Application deadline: 3:00pm MT on the 10th of every month

For more information and to apply, click here. 

The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers worldwide in the development, production, and post-production of cinematic documentaries on a wide range of contemporary topics and themes. For over two decades, the fund has been a stable source of nonrecoupable funding, supporting work that expresses the world in creative, complex, beautiful, and provocative ways. They remain committed to nonfiction projects that elevate and advance cultural dialogue, expand the form through creativity and innovation, and have the potential to generate social impact around some of the most compelling issues of our time.

Deadline: July 14, 2025

For more information, click here.

Artist Grant awards an unrestricted $1200 USD grant to one visual artist three times each year. Visual artists worldwide, age 18 and older, can apply for our upcoming deadline on July 15, 2025.

Requirements

They welcome submissions in a wide range of media, including:

Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, installation, and other new or alternative visual media.

Please note: They do not accept submissions for music, theater, dance, or film/video.

Application Instructions

To apply, email [email protected] with one of the following:

If you have a website: Send the link and grant permission to feature your name, artwork, and website on social media.

If you don’t have a website:
Attach 3–5 images of your artwork (JPG, PNG, or PDF), along with a resume, CV, or short bio that includes your name. Also grant permission to share your work and name on social media platforms.

A $30 application fee (payable on our website) helps support their grant program and review process.

Each year AXS awards up to five creators with grants of up to $10,000 each to assist them in completing their projects in any stage of production.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the grant:

• Applicants cannot be enrolled in a full-time degree granting program.
• Applicants should be 18 years of age or older to apply.
• Applicants should be individuals, however they may have a fiscal sponsor.
• Projects are encouraged to be led by individuals who identify as living with a disability, particularly those from underserved communities. However, all applicants are welcome to apply.

Deadline: Jul 31, 2025

Visit here for more information and to apply. 

Ayuda a la circulación de profesionales de la música

Una convocatoria pensada para llevar tu trabajo musical a cualquier lugar del mundo! Se pueden presentar proyectos que busquen la internacionalización tanto de espectáculos musicales como aquellos que promuevan los intercambios de creación, de composición, de investigación y de saberes. Teniendo en cuenta el alto costo de los pasajes internacionales, esta convocatoria está diseñada con el fin de brindar ayudas económicas para la compra de pasajes aéreos, terrestres o fluviales.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Ayuda a la programación musical

Una convocatoria destinada a programadores de festivales, ferias y mercados de música, salas de conciertos, escuelas de música, orquestas o coros, entre otros eventos y emprendimientos, que quieran invitar a profesionales de música para participar de sus proyectos. Así, un festival o un corredor cultural de festivales de música, por ejemplo, podrá presentar una propuesta para invitar a participar en su programación a artistas de distintos países; un sello discográfico podrá convocar a bookers para la presentación de sus bandas; una orquesta o varias orquestas asociadas podrán candidatearse para invitar a una directora; una asociación de instrumentistas podrá presentar una convocar a un/a luthier para brindar capacitaciones; entre otras tantas posibilidades. Vale recordar que esta línea es para cubrir los gastos de transporte (aéreo, terrestre o fluvial).

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Ayuda a artistas e investigadores para residencias

Una convocatoria abierta para desarrollar trabajos creativos o de investigación junto a una institución o grupo musical anfitrión. En este sentido, esta convocatoria se abre no sólo a compositores o grupos musicales sino también a investigadores, para realizar proyectos en cualquier parte del mundo. La duración de las residencias deberá contemplar un mínimo de tres semanas.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Ayuda a la especialización y el perfeccionamiento artístico y técnico

Una convocatoria que brinda la oportunidad de realizar estudios avanzados en todos los ámbitos del saber y el quehacer musical en cualquier parte del mundo. Este proceso puede ser llevado a cabo tanto dentro del ámbito institucional como de forma particular con grandes maestras y maestros de la cultura popular. El apoyo financiero de Ibermúsicas se puede aplicar a todos los costos propios de un proceso de especialización.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Ayuda a proyectos virtuales

Presentamos una convocatoria destinada a la realización de proyectos musicales que utilicen las herramientas virtuales como plataforma: grabación de álbumes, creación de videoclips, shows en streaming, colaboraciones virtuales, video conferencias, talleres virtuales, podcasts y mucho más.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Ayuda a la promoción del repertorio iberoamericano

Una nueva propuesta de Ibermúsicas destinada a orquestas, coros, ensambles, entre otros para promover una mayor visibilidad de la música creada por compositoras y compositores iberoamericanos. Se financiará la grabación en alta calidad de la interpretación de, como mínimo, una obra musical incluida en el “Catálogo Iberoamericano de Partituras” disponible en la página web de Ibermúsicas. La convocatoria es una invitación a adentrarse en el enorme acervo de música escrita que refleja el gran caudal creativo de la región iberoamericana.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Premio Ibermúsicas de canción para las infancias

Este Concurso de Creación de Canción en Colaboración, en donde creadoras y creadores de la región componen en dupla creativa, tendrá nuevamente un enfoque orientado especialmente hacia las canciones para las infancias, ámbito en el cual la canción iberoamericana tiene una gran relevancia. Entendiendo la infancia como el tiempo del descubrimiento, del deslumbre, de la sorpresa y la maravilla del mundo, Ibermúsicas sugiere la temática de “Migración y Diversidades” y la posibilidad de crear letras en todas las lenguas de los países iberoamericanos, invitando a explorar también las lenguas nativas.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Premio Ibermúsicas de composición de obra para Banda Sinfónica

Ibermúsicas propone una nueva edición de sus concursos de creación de obra académica, en este caso orientado específicamente hacia la creación de nuevas obras para Banda Sinfónica, las cuales serán estrenadas por elencos nacionales de primer nivel de Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, México y Venezuela.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Viajes por la Música de la Lusofonía

Una línea de apoyo destinada a ciudadanas y ciudadanos de la Comunidad de Países de Lengua Portuguesa localizados en África (Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Ecuatorial, Mozambique, Santo Tomé y Príncipe) y en Asia (Timor Oriental). Por iniciativa de Brasil y de Portugal, la línea de apoyo fue creada para facilitar la circulación de artistas y agentes musicales de estos países por la región Iberoamericana. Una convocatoria que tiene por objetivo resaltar los lazos que surgen de la diversidad musical de los países de lengua oficial portuguesa, a fin de construir puentes de cultura y cooperación entre América Latina, Europa, África y el Sudeste Asiático. De carácter multilateral y pluricontinental, esta iniciativa propone reducir las distancias físicas y acercar a sus pueblos.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Premio Brasil – Ibermúsicas

Con el ánimo de reconocer el mérito de iniciativas o espacios que se vienen dedicando, a lo largo de los años, a la difusión de la música brasileña en el espacio iberoamericano y en todo el mundo, se propone esta convocatoria, especialmente creada por Brasil.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Premio Perú – Celebrando al Cajón Peruano y a la Percusión Afro Peruana

El Ministerio de Cultura del Perú propone un concurso especial en el marco de la celebración del “Cajón Peruano” a realizarse en 2026 con el fin de amplificar el diálogo internacional en torno al cajón peruano y la percusión afro peruana, incentivando una reflexión sobre este instrumento que desde las costas del Perú, se esparció lejanamente, haciéndose parte de la sonoridad de muchas músicas del mundo. Se invitará a artistas e investigadoras/es a presentar sus proyectos a través de “Ibermúsicas Global”, una nueva herramienta del Programa Ibermúsicas que tiene por objeto propiciar el encuentro entre propuestas artísticas y festivales de todo el mundo.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

For more information and to apply, click here. 

En busca de promover el diálogo intercultural entre artistas musicales de Iberoamérica y de los Estados Unidos, se ofrece esta convocatoria en colaboración entre Ibermúsicas y Mid Atlantic Arts para prestar ayudas a la circulación de artistas de Iberoamérica en Estados Unidos. Conscientes de la incidencia que conlleva el costo y la tramitación de las visas de trabajo en los proyectos que promueven la circulación de artistas en Estados Unidos, Ibermúsicas se aboca en la presente convocatoria a prestar asistencia específicamente en este rubro. A su vez, Mid Atlantic Arts apoyará a los proyectos seleccionados a través de la ayuda financiera a las instituciones anfitrionas de los conciertos para la gestión de los contratos artísticos.

With the mission of promoting intercultural dialogue between musical artists from Ibero-America and audiences in the United States, this call is created in collaboration between Ibermúsicas and Mid Atlantic Arts to support circulation of Ibero-American artists in the United States. Aware of the impact that the cost of work visas has on these projects, Ibermúsicas is focusing on this call to provide financial assistance specifically in this area. In turn, Mid Atlantic Arts, through its Mid Atlantic Tours program, will financially support projects selected by subsidizing presenters with part of the artistic contract agreement.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Lunes 15 de septiembre

Opening registration period: Monday, June 16
Closing registration period: Monday, September 15

To apply, click here. 

Con la misión de promover el diálogo intercultural entre artistas musicales de Iberoamérica e Italia, se lanza una convocatoria especial fruto de la colaboración entre Ibermúsicas y Emilia-Romagna, a través de la Fundación ATER en el marco de las actividades de Exportación Musical en colaboración con la Comisión de Música de Emilia-Romagna.
Esta iniciativa busca respaldar proyectos binacionales con el objetivo de enriquecer las escenas musicales locales, ampliar la proyección internacional de las y los artistas, y fortalecer los ecosistemas creativos de ambas regiones. Es una propuesta colaborativa que permite a una productora o institución, presentar proyectos en los que las y los artistas participantes asuman, de forma alternada, los roles de residentes e invitados. Los programas de conciertos serán diseñados de manera conjunta, promoviendo colaboraciones en vivo, la interpretación de repertorios fusionados y la creación de nuevas obras que reflejen la riqueza y diversidad cultural de ambas regiones, fortaleciendo vínculos artísticos a largo plazo.

Con l’obiettivo di promuovere il dialogo interculturale tra musicisti provenienti dall’Ibero-America e dall’Italia, viene aperto un bando speciale, frutto della collaborazione tra Ibermúsicas e l’Emilia-Romagna, attraverso ATER Fondazione -nell’ambito delle attività di Music Export – ed in sinergia con l’Emilia-Romagna Music Commission.
Questa iniziativa intende sostenere progetti di collaborazione tra artisti provenienti da Paesi diversi, con l’obiettivo di arricchire le scene musicali dei territori di riferimento per i progetti selezionati, ampliare la visibilità internazionale degli artisti e rafforzare gli ecosistemi creativi delle aree coinvolte. Il format proposto consente a un’entità legalmente costituita (come agenzie di booking e management, case di produzione, istituzioni accademiche, etichette discografiche, ecc.) di presentare un progetto di collaborazione in cui gli artisti si alternano nel ruolo di residenti e ospiti. I progetti dovranno essere elaborati congiuntamente, stimolando la creazione di nuove opere, collaborazioni dal vivo e l’interpretazione di nuovi repertori, espressione della diversità e della ricchezza culturale condivisa.

Apertura período de inscripción: Lunes 16 de junio
Cierre período de inscripción: Miércoles 1 de octubre

Apertura delle iscrizioni: lunedì 16 giugno
Chiusura iscrizioni: mercoledì 1 ottobre

To apply, click here. 

The Audience Innovations Fund is a new program that promotes fresh strategies to grow audiences for independent film releases. They do this through awarding grants for bold experiments around distribution and marketing, and by providing educational resources for film teams to encourage a renewed focus on audiences. They will also release case studies and data publicly so that the field as a whole can learn from the successes and failures of grantees.

Long term goals are simply larger audiences for independent cinema as well as audiences that are more representative of the US population. In a challenging time for our field, their strategy is to offset the risk of testing new methodologies to strengthen the engagement with thought-provoking films in our culture. You can apply for a grant amount from $5,000 to $50,000. The amount you apply for should not exceed 50% of the overall marketing budget for the film or films.

They are currently focused on US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.

Requirements

To apply for a grant, you must:

• Be a for-profit or nonprofit organization or entity that can demonstrate previous experience distributing and marketing independent feature films.
• Include a specific film or film slate in your proposal.
• Be willing to share back available data around the proposal’s success.
• They prioritize entities who have demonstrated that they value diversity in race, gender, sexual orientation, and those with disabilities, as well as applicants who look to expand audiences from traditionally excluded communities.
• Streamer/studio owned entities and vertically integrated companies (those that fund, produce and distribute films) are not eligible.
  

Deadline: Rolling

For more information and to apply, visit here.

We Are Moving The Needle has launched a new MicroGrants Fund for Wildfire Relief to provide targeted support for producers, engineers and creators affected by the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires. Grants will be available on a sliding scale from $100 to $1,000 based on demonstrated need. Support is aimed at those whose livelihoods and careers have been significantly impacted by loss of a studio, gear, or other critical infrastructure related to your career in audio.

Requirements

• In alignment with We Are Moving The Needle’s mission to advance equity in the music industry, this specific MicroGrants initiative will provide targeted support for early and mid-career audio professionals affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
• To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent U.S. residency status.

Apply online. Deadline: Rolling.

Each month FCA receives an average of 100 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12-21 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $3,000, and the average grant is now $1,900.

Created in 1993 to further FCA’s mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who: 

• Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding 
• Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.

Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate, project-based assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.

Requirements

• Applicants must be living in the United States or U.S. territories and have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other)
• Applicants must have committed performance or exhibition opportunities, and be able to provide specific dates at the time of application.
• Applicants must be individual artists, or an individual representing an artist collective, ensemble, or group. Curators, producers, workshop organizers, organizations, or arts presenters are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants may not reapply for a project for which they have previously been denied funding.
• There is a three-year (36-month) waiting period between grants. Emergency Grants and Grants to Artists recipients must wait three years from the time of their grant before applying for an Emergency Grant.
• If you were a lead artist on a project that received an Emergency Grant in the last three years, or if a primary collaborator on your current project received a Grants to Artists award or an Emergency Grant in the last three years, you are not eligible to apply.
  

Application instructions here. 

Deadline: Rolling

The US Writers Aid Initiative (USWAI) is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported. Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff.

Requirements

Writers currently enrolled in degree-granting programs are also not eligible. Writers do not have to be Members of PEN America to receive a grant, but all recipients of emergency funding will be given a complimentary one-year PEN America membership.

Application Instructions

Questions may be addressed to [email protected]
For application instructions, please visit here.

Deadline: Rolling

The Liu Shiming Art Foundation is now accepting applications for a new round of Liu Shiming Artist Grants for visual artists during the first decade of their careers. Up to five grants of $5,000 each will support the creation or completion of new projects.

Last year’s recipients included artists working in a wide range of media and art forms—from ceramic sculpture to architectural installations to textile, paint, and even onion skin. Applications came from more than 80 countries, representing virtually every corner of the globe. While the work proposed varied tremendously, the creativity and commitment to art was inspiring!

Visual artists who have been working for at least two years (but not more than 10 years) are invited to apply for a grant via the Foundation’s website: https://www.lsmartfund.org/grants-2025. Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2025; there is no application fee.

Successful applicants will be notified by December 2, 2025.

Requirements

Artists from any country may apply, but the application and supporting materials must be submitted in English. To be eligible for considerations, applicants must meet any one of the following conditions:
- Received a BFA or BA in studio arts between 2015 and 2023
- Received an MFA in visual arts between 2015 and 2023
- Had their debut show (solo or group) at a gallery or juried exhibition between 2015 and 2023

Application instructions here.

Grantees will be selected monthly through a weighted lottery and announced from August 2025 through April 2026.The DWR Fund provides one-time $1,000 grants to freelance dancers for eligible, contracted dance work completed between January 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026.

Dance/NYC is proud to introduce the Dance Workforce Resilience (DWR) Fund, a new regranting program for freelance dancers in the NYC metropolitan area. Made possible through support from the Ford Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and other generous funders, the DWR Fund is designed to promote fair labor practices and address wage inequities across the dance field.

The Fund intends to:

• help close the gap between what freelance dancers earn and what it costs to live in the NYC area
• encourage fair working practices by supporting the use of written contracts
• support those most impacted by systemic inequities, including African, Latina/o/x, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA), disabled, immigrant, older adults, women-identifying, gender nonconforming/nonbinary/genderqueer, and transgender dancers

Requirements
You may be eligible if you:
* Are 18 or older
* Live in the NYC metro area (includes the five boroughs, Long Island counties, Westchester, Rockland, Bergen and Hudson counties)
* Worked under a contract as a dancer on project-based work between January 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026
* Can provide proof of contract
* Contracts must include terms such as pay rate, contract period, working hours, dancer role, and independent contractor status. Full details on eligibility requirements can be found online.

Deadline: Mar 03, 2026