Emergency Grants

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.  Applications are accepted online only; 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 2012, grants ranged in amount from $350 to $2,440; the average grant was $1,165.

As of June 2013, Emergency Grants applications will be only accepted through an online form.  To apply, click here.

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:

• Requests for life-related emergencies such as food, rent, medical bills, childcare and other basic necessities
• Requests for residency programs
• Requests for youth or educational programming, professional training, workshops, lectures, symposiums, conferences or competitions
• General support for projects with no exhibition or performance opportunity
• Requests for funds to use as reimbursement or for expenses incurred in the past

Eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must be living, working and paying taxes in the United States. Artists living outside the US are not eligible to apply. Applicants must be living in the US at the time of application.
• Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students, Ph.D. or Doctoral candidates, and other students enrolled in any degree program at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
• Successful applicants of the Emergency Grants program may not reapply for three years from the date of the past award. Awardees may receive a maximum of two Emergency Grants during their lifetime.

Application Requirements:

DUE TO OUR SMALL STAFF AND THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF INCOMING REQUESTS, YOUR APPLICATION MUST FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES EXACTLY AS STATED ON THE APPLICATION FORM. NO PHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE.

To confirm that your application meets program guidelines, please review our Emergency Grants F.A.Q.s.

The following information is required in the application:

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 budget for your entire project (not just your request amount), detailing both income and expenses

o Supporting images or work samples in order to help the Panel gain a sense of your work:

• PERFORMATIVE WORK: moving image and sound work samples may be uploaded as web links.  If you prefer you may provide one DVD or CD via post.  

• NON-PERFORMATIVE WORK: up to ten jpeg files (largest dimension = approx. 800 pixels), OR one writing sample up to 20 pages may be uploaded. 

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.

If you have any questions upon reviewing these guidelines, you may write to: grants@contemporary-arts.org.  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 2013 Emergency Grants are supported in part by generous grants from: Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Bossak Heilbron Charitable Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The Kenneth and Anne Griffin Foundation, AG Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, New York City Council Member Stephen Levin, Thomas A. and Georgina T. Russo Family Fund and Thanksgiving Fund.  

Emergency Grants supporting Central and Eastern European travel are supported by a generous grant from 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.