Created in 1993, Emergency Grants provides speedy funding for visual and performing artists who have unanticipated, sudden opportunities to present their work to the public, or who incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates. The grants are intended to support the creation of innovative and experimental work, and are meant to assist individuals and groups when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding.
Requests are primarily granted to artists who are "emerging" and have few sources of financial support. Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists working anywhere in the United States.
Emergency Grants applications are accepted year round; there is no deadline. There is no application form; please refer to the application requirements below. Grants are determined on a monthly basis by the Emergency Grants Panel, a volunteer committee of established artists. In 2011, grants ranged in amount from $300 to $2,000; the average grant was $950.
Special funds for travel to Asia, Central Europe and Eastern Europe:
In addition to providing support for artists with immediate needs related to performing and exhibition opportunities, FCA has special funds for last-minute or unexpected travel or other expenses for US-based artists presenting work throughout Asia, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. Such requests must meet general Emergency Grants program guidelines in order to be eligible.
Guidelines:
In keeping with FCA's mission of encouraging, sponsoring and promoting work of a contemporary, avant-garde nature, applicants must demonstrate that their artistic practice falls within this context.
Please note that Emergency Grants does NOT provide support for the following:
Eligibility requirements:
Application Requirements:
DUE TO OUR SMALL STAFF AND THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF INCOMING REQUESTS, YOUR APPLICATION MUST FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES EXACTLY AS STATED. PLEASE USE THE CHECKLIST BELOW TO ENSURE COMPLETION.
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL ONLY. NO PHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE.
To confirm that your application meets program guidelines, please review our Emergency Grants F.A.Q.s.
To apply for an Emergency Grant, artists are required to email a one-to-two page request, which must be attached as a .doc Word document. (Sorry, no .docx, PDF or other formats can be accepted.) The letter must include the following information:
o Artist's or group's name, mailing address, phone number and email address
o A description of the project or opportunity
o An explanation of the timeliness and/or emergency nature of the situation
o The specific amount being requested, how the funds would be used, and explanation of how an Emergency Grant would assist you in achieving your goal
o How the applicant heard about the Emergency Grants program; please mention if you or your group has received previous funding from FCA; when, and in what capacity
o A project budget, detailing both income and expenses, included within the same Word document as your request; this budget is not part of the proposal length (Excel or PDF budgets cannot be accepted)
o Supporting images or work samples in order to help the Panel gain a sense of your work:
- PERFORMATIVE WORK: one audio CD OR one DVD can be mailed to FCA--please indicate in your request letter that you have sent materials by post, and include a SASE if you would like the disc returned to you, OR you can indicate websites where your work can be heard or watched.
- NON-PERFORMATIVE WORK: up to four jpeg files (largest dimension = approx. 800 pixels), OR one writing sample may be attached as separate files to your email. Do not embed jpeg files in the body of your Word document.
o Link(s) to relevant websites may be included within your request
o Do not send additional supporting documents. You will be contacted by FCA if supplemental information is needed.
Requests should be emailed to: grants@contemporary-arts.org, and addressed to the Emergency Grants Panel. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be considered.
Notification:
Receipt of your application will be acknowledged via email. Please do not contact FCA about the status of your application. Applicants are notified of the Panel's decision immediately following Panel monthly meetings. Grant checks are mailed to awardees the same day. Rejected applicants may not reapply for the same proposal or request.
The 2011 Emergency Grants are supported in part by generous grants from: Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Bossak Heilbron Charitable Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Dedalus Foundation, The Kenneth and Anne Griffin Foundation, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, New York City Council Member Stephen Levin and Thanksgiving Fund.
Emergency Grants supporting Asian and Central and Eastern European travel are supported by generous grants from the Asian Cultural Council and the Trust for Mutual Understanding.
This program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
