URGENT ART FUND

SPACES is accepting applications for the Urgent Art Fund! Politically, culturally, and/or socially responsive projects will receive grants through two application cycles: 

• Cycle One: Applications accepted from February 16 (noon EST) - April 16, 2024 (11:59PM EST)
• Cycle Two: Application accepted from May 20 (noon EST) - July 22, 2024 (11:59PM EST)
   

A three person jury comprised of artists/arts professionals will select 12 visual artists/collectives to receive $4,000 in 2024. Applicants receive constructive feedback compiled from the jury and have the opportunity to apply to both cycles (but may only receive one award). Each cycle, jurors select 6 artists to receive the Urgent Art Fund grant, who will have the remainder of 2024 from awarding to complete and publicly display their project. 

Grant recipients receive access to on-site art production facilities, mentorship and network opportunities, a SPACES ArtsPass membership and Assembly for the Arts membership.

ELIGIBILITY
   The Urgent Art Fund is open to visual artists, curators, and cultural producers from any stage of their career who engage in experimental practices. Applicants must reside, work and display their projects in Cuyahoga County. Those who have a confirmed exhibition scheduled at SPACES, SPACES staff (and relatives), SPACES board members (and relatives), SPACES contractors (and relatives), or 2023 Urgent Art Fund recipients, are ineligible to apply. Additionally, artists may not receive more than one grant per calendar year from any SPACES regranting programs, and may not apply for the Urgent Art Fund with a project that is funded by another Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) grant or has already been funded by SPACES. However, artists may be the beneficiary of a different CAC or SPACES project (i.e contracted participant artists as a part of a different proposed project).

      Applicants must: 

• Live and work in Cuyahoga County
• Apply with projects based in visual arts. (Learn more HERE)
• Be 18+ years of age at the time of applying
• NOT be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program during your program year
   

APPLICATION PROCESS
     Artists are required to submit the following materials:

• Project Title
• Biography (Up to 250 Words)
• Project Statement (Up to 500 words)
• Timeline (Download + Complete Template) 
• Budget  (Download + Complete Template)
• Work Samples + Descriptions

SELECTION PROCESS
   Applications for the Urgent Art Fund will be accepted through two open cycles until all 12 project support grants in 2024 have been awarded. SPACES will retain a 3-person jury to review all applications, consisting of an arts professional living and/or working in Cuyahoga County, a previous recipient of the Urgent Art Fund and an arts professional who lives and works outside of Cuyahoga County. (Those serving as a juror will be ineligible to apply) Jurors will independently review each application to be discussed at the end of each cycle collectively. Applications will be based on the project’s feasibility, artistic quality, ability to create an exchange of ideas and perspectives, and alignment with the purpose of the Urgent Art Fund.
 

The Urgent Art Fund is administered by SPACES and supported by residents of Cuyahoga County and Assembly for the Arts through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. 

Questions? Visit the Urgent Art Fund FAQ