Craft Research Fund Grant

Craft Research Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Center For Craft Creativity & Design Inc
Amount: US $5,000 - US $15,000
Last Updated: October 05, 2025

Summary

The Craft Research Fund Grant, initiated in 2005, is a key program supporting scholarly craft research in the U.S. It funds researchers and curators exploring craft history and theory, with a focus on projects that reveal new insights into craft practices, relationships between hand-made and digital technologies, and global contexts for American craft. The grant aims to encourage innovation and interdisciplinary approaches in the field, while prioritizing applications from underrepresented populations.

Overview

Started in 2005, the Craft Research Fund is the Center's first and longest-running grant program. This visionary and influential program is dedicated to supporting scholarly craft research in the United States by annually funding researchers, independent scholars, and curators. The Craft Research Fund Project Grant supports projects that encourage, expand, and support scholarly craft research in the United States. Examples of scholarly craft research might include: Research providing new insight into work by historical or contemporary craft artists in the U.S. or U.S. territoriesPresenting a new understanding of the relationship between hand-made production and digital technologiesProviding a new contribution to the history of craft in the United StatesProjects placing American craft in a global contextOther topics that offer fresh perspectives within the field Grant Goals Encourage: To encourage innovative research on critical issues in craft theory and history.Expand: To investigate neglected questions on craft history and criticism.Support: To support new cross-disciplinary approaches to scholarship in craft.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Proposals are welcome from academic researchers and independent scholars.Proposals are welcome from museums, galleries, universities and organizations.This grant is intended to support scholarly research.Applicants must:be able to receive taxable income in the U.S. for the duration of the grant and report this grant as income.be 18 years of age or olderonly receive one Center for Craft grant and/or fellowship per year.Collaboratives are welcome to apply.There must be one fiduciary agent for the group or one person who will receive the award funds as this person will be responsible for paying taxes on the award amount funded.Use of Funds:Grant funds may be used to support research activities including travel and living expenses, commissioning essays for contributors, documentation such as images or rights to use images or text, photocopies or other reproductions, and other incidental research expenses.For museums, galleries, universities, and organizations who are applying to the grant, please limit staffing and overhead costs to 15% of your total budget ask, i.e. if applying for $15,000 in support, total personnel and overhead costs should be a maximum of $2,250.For the purpose of this grant, the Center for Craft requires that all grant recipients provide financial remuneration to working artists for their time, labor, and services rendered towards the awarded project scope and goals.For remuneration estimates, we recommend consulting the floor wages listed on the Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.) fee calculator website.When working with community members, the Center for Craft requires that all grant recipients provide financial remuneration for their time, labor, and services rendered toward the awarded project scope and goals.For travel purposes, the Center for Craft recommends recipients follow the Federal Travel Regulation and Reimbursement Rates.Grant Period: 18 months

Ineligibility

This grant is not for the creation of artwork. ‍This grant is not for the dissemination of already completed researchApplicants cannot be:substantial contributors to the Center for Craftcurrent employees, consultants, or board members of the Center for Craft immediate family members of such personsIf an applicant has been previously awarded a Center for Craft grant but did not complete the project or is still in the progress of completing the project they are not eligible to apply.Awards cannot be deferred to the next year due to outstanding applications or multiple awards.No capital equipment purchases are eligible for support. Examples of capital equipment may include: laptops, recorders, printers, or other items not listed.