FCA Emergency Grants

FCA Emergency Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Amount: US $500 - US $3,000
Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Summary

The FCA Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists facing unexpected opportunities or expenses. Established in 1993, this program supports artists in the U.S. and abroad, offering grants ranging from $500 to $3,000. With a monthly review of around 100 applications, FCA funds 15-20 projects, ensuring timely assistance for artists with committed exhibition or performance dates. Artists are encouraged to apply 6-8 weeks prior to their presentation date.

Overview

NOTE: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To meet artists' last-minute needs in a timely manner, FCA's Emergency Grants panel meets monthly to review requests. We recommend applying 6-8 weeks before your presentation date. We review applications received within a shorter timeline, but please keep in mind that you may not hear back from FCA until your project is underway. Created in 1993 to further FCA's mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who: Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of fundingIncur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates Emergency Grants is a year-round, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate, project-based assistance to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad. Each month FCA receives an average of 100 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 15-20 grants in the range of $500 to $3,000 each. Applicants may request any amount in that range and, if granted, may receive full or partial funding. The average grant is currently $2,200. Other Important Information FCA receives dedicated support from the Trust for Mutual Understanding to fund unexpected or unbudgeted travel-related expenses for cultural exchanges between the U.S. and the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility requirements:Applicants must be living in the United States or U.S. territories and have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other)Applicants must have committed performance or exhibition opportunities, and be able to provide specific dates at the time of application.Applicants must be individual artists, or an individual representing an artist collective, ensemble, or group. If you have received support from the FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund, you are still eligible to apply for an Emergency Grant.If Artists who make innovative, experimental work are eligible to apply. You have received an Emergency Grant or a Grants to Artists award from FCA, you must wait three years from the date of your past award before reapplying.FCA only provides support for residency programs that are connected to public premiere performance or exhibition opportunities.Eligible projects:Emergency Grants support the confirmed, public presentation of completed experimental work through performances, exhibitions, screenings, poetry readings, installations, and more.Projects at artist-run and non-commercial spaces are, in most cases, eligible.

Ineligibility

You may not apply for a project that is more than eight weeks away, for a project that has already happened, or to request reimbursement for expenses you have already incurred.Curators, producers, workshop organizers, organizations, or arts presenters are not eligible to apply.Applicants may not reapply for a project for which they have previously been denied funding.Residencies for early performance development or with in-progress showings are generally not eligible for Emergency Grants, which support projects close to completion. Artists enrolled in any degree-granting program or school are not eligible to apply. This includes high school, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.The Emergency Grants program supports urgent costs for artists' public presentation opportunities. Educational, non-public, or pay-to-attend opportunities are ineligible.Emergency grants do not support: Life-related emergencies such as food, rent, medical bills, childcare, and other basic necessitiesReimbursement for expenses that you have already incurredProjects with no scheduled exhibition or performance datesWork-in-progress or informal showing of works (such as workshop readings of plays or artist residency-related showings of work in progress)Fees for participation in a residency program, or other educational and artistic development opportunities. Review our Emergency Grants F.A.Q.s for residency-related questions.Deposits and registration fees for participation in an exhibition, fair, or other presentation opportunityProjects taking place in commercial gallery spacesYouth or educational programmingRequests to attend, present at, or organize professional training, workshops, lectures, symposiums, conferences, or competitionsStudents (high school, undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., doctoral candidates, and other students enrolled in any degree program at the time of application) are not eligible to applyProduction of CDs, albums, or music videosFraming is generally not considered to be an urgent need unless the framing is clearly demonstrated to be an essential part of the work that will be presented