Curatorial Advancement- Innovation Grants

The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation offers Curatorial Advancement- Innovation Grants to support innovative projects that address significant issues in contemporary art, education, and the environment. With funding between $500 and $10,000, these grants encourage U.S.-based curators to explore new ideas and practices in the curatorial space. Applicants must be affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization and demonstrate a strategy for sharing outcomes, especially for international projects that impact U.S. audiences.

NOTE: No invitation required to submit an LOI.
Innovation Grants are designed to support a project, initiative or opportunity not previously explored in the local curatorial space, or an emerging trend that is under-resourced. Ideas are encouraged to disrupt 'business as usual' and aim to further discourse in contemporary art in the United States. Requests can be for specific projects or new ways of doing business. They can also be public facing or internal to an institution.
Grant terms will be up to one year with funding ranging from $500-$10,000 and no match is required. The grant can be used to leverage other grant opportunities. Additionally, up to 25% of request can include staff time and overhead. Projects, initiatives or opportunities anticipated to exceed $10,000 may be considered as a phased request that allows an institution or partner to seek additional funds.
Requests should be able to report an outcome within one year of receiving the grant. This outcome is set by the applicant and does not need to conclude the project, initiative or opportunity. Projects with an International scope must include a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.)
The Foundation's focus is contemporary art. While curatorial position titles may be broader, applicants must be U.S.-based curators and have contemporary art at the core of their proposals.

Eligibility

Funding must go through a US-based 501c3 entity. If an independent curator is awarded a grant, the Foundation will work with the individual to secure fiscal sponsorship.While curatorial position titles may be broader, applicants must be curators and impacting the contemporary art field in the U.S. at the core of their proposals.Curators can apply for projects/experiences that will take place outside the U.S. as long as the lead curator is based in the U.S., the organization or fiscal agent is based in the U.S. and there is a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S.The Foundation's focus is contemporary art.Requests should be able to report an outcome within 18-months of receiving the grant. This outcome is set by the applicant and does not need to conclude the project, initiative or opportunity. Projects with an International scope must include a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.).

Ineligibility

Exhibitions and exhibition research proposals are not eligible for Innovation Grants.