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 underway and close to completion. 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 2007, grants ranged in amount from $200 to $2,000; the average grant was $1,000.
In keeping with the FCA's mission of encouraging, sponsoring and promoting work of a contemporary, avant-garde nature, applicants must demonstrate that they are working within this context.
Emergency Grants are supported in part by: The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Bossak-Heilbron Charitable Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Dedalus Foundation, Anne Dias Griffin, Thanksgiving Fund and Trust for Mutual Understanding.
This program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
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. NO PHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE.
To apply for an Emergency Grant, artists are required to email a one-to-two page request, which must be attached as a Word document (Sorry, no 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 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 the FCA and in what capacity
o A project budget, 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 the 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. 500 pixels), OR one writing sample may be attached to your email.
o Link(s) to relevant websites may be included within your request
o Do not send additional supporting documents. You will be contacted by the FCA if supplemental information is needed
Requests should be emailed to: rf@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 in a reply email. Please do not contact the 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.
