The Foundation actively supports the advancement of the visual arts through an extensive artist-centered grantmaking program. Our aim is to encourage and facilitate the production of original work that expands and enhances the contemporary art field. Our grants serve the needs of artists by funding the arts organizations and cultural institutions that support them. The grants we provide cover the full spectrum of artistic activity, from grassroots happenings at alternative spaces to contemporary exhibitions at major museums, and every phase of the creative process, from conception and production, to presentation and documentation.
To help grantees best respond to the changing needs of artists in a continuously evolving contemporary art field, we have designed our grantmaking program to support a wide range of opportunities. Project grants are awarded for substantial curatorial endeavors such as solo or group exhibitions, which often involve commissioning new bodies of work and the production of scholarly catalogues. Program grants are generally made over a period of two years to support a combination of exhibitions, public programs, residencies, convenings, publishing projects, networking and other opportunities for creative growth and exploration.
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 three ongoing Special Initiatives: Creative Capital, Common Field, 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.
Scholarly research undertaken in the field of contemporary art is funded through Curatorial Research Fellowships. Curators at any stage of their careers are eligible to apply and must have the formal support of an insitution and its director. It is assumed that research will lead to a significant exhibition, though this is not a requirement. Generally these fellowships are for projects with long lead times and may involve significant travel. Grants to curators do not preclude separate proposals from sponsoring institutions in any given grant round.
Prospective applicants from Duke University – contact Angela Crews in the Office of Foundation Relations, University Development at 919-681-0468 or angela.crews@duke.edu.
Deadlines: Mar. 1, Sep. 1.