GKFF Artists Creative Fund Grant

The GKFF Artists Creative Fund, a program by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, supports local artists in Tulsa by providing funding and professional development. With 20 awards of $10,000 each, the fund encourages innovative projects across various artistic disciplines. Applicants must reside in Tulsa and commit to public engagement through events. This initiative aims to foster creativity and empower artists, ultimately enhancing the cultural landscape of the community.

About George Kaiser Family Foundation
George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) is a charitable organization dedicated to providing equal opportunity for young children through investments in early childhood education, community health, social services, and civic enhancement. GKFF believes that Tulsa is a land of opportunity. A generous and welcoming community, this city is not bound by traditional conventions. GKFF is dedicated to making Tulsa the best city for children to be born, grow and succeed.
Misson: GKFF works to break the cycle of poverty and make Tulsa a place where every person and family can thrive, no matter their background.
The Artists Creative Fund is a program of George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) to provide funding, visibility, and professional development to artists and creatives living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through this fund, 20 project-specific awards of $10,000 each are invested in a diverse group of artists to test ideas, explore collaborations, and build skills in the process of generating innovative creative work.
This fund rewards artistic accomplishments to date and supports the continued development of creative projects in dance, theater, music, spoken word, performance art, traditional and folk arts, visual art (2D and 3D), film, literary arts, and/or any multi-disciplinary combination of the above. Grantees will be asked to hold one public-facing event with Tulsa audiences during the grant period.
GKFF is working in partnership with Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange (CACHE), which leads the program, application process and professional development

Eligibility

Who Can Apply?Artists who currently live within the Tulsa city limits, have resided within the Tulsa city limits for at least one year and will retain residency within the Tulsa city limits for the duration of the grant periodIndividual practicing artists and creativesA group of creatives may apply with a lead artist/creative who serves as the primary applicant and key contactArtists and creatives with an active and current practice creating work in dance, theater, music, spoken word, performance art, traditional and folk arts, visual art (2D and 3D), film, literary arts, and/or any multi-disciplinary combination of the aboveArtists and creatives whose proposed projects take place in the city of Tulsa and include at least one public-facing event for Tulsa audiences during the grant periodLead artists who are able to commit to the cohort-based in-person professional development sessions from 6-8:30PM on the following Tuesday evenings:September 2, 2025October 14, 2025November 18, 2025January 6, 2026February 3, 2026March 3, 2026April 7, 2026Individuals at least 21 years of age at the time of applicationU.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those with non-resident status

Ineligibility

Who is InelliigibleTo Apply?Artists living outside of the Tulsa city limitsOrganizations and full-time studentsPrevious ACF recipientsCurrent Tulsa Artist FellowsArtists who have held a Tulsa Artist Fellowship within the past three yearsEntrepreneurs participating in the Build in Tulsa programmingIndividuals who receive a W2 from George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) or Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF)Individuals who receive a W2 from the following GKFF entities: 918 Security, LLC; ADPM, LLC; American Song Archives, LLC – Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Center; Atlas School, LLC; Build in Tulsa (BIT), LLC; GGP Parks, LLC (Includes Gathering Place, Guthrie Green, Fly Loft, and Low-Down employees); GKFF BEST, LLC (BEST – Birth Through Eight Strategies); InTulsa Initiative, LLC (Includes Tulsa For You, Tulsa Service Year, Campus Tulsa, Experience Tulsa); InvestNorth, LLC; Tulsa Artist Fellowship, LLC; Tulsa Innovation Labs, LLC; Tulsa Local Ventures, LLC; Tulsa Remote, LLC (Experience Tulsa division)Individuals who receive a W2 from the following TCF entities/funds: 501 Tech; Atlas School LLC; FC Tulsa Foundation, LLC; Healthy Minds; Housing Forward Oklahoma, LLC; Impact Tulsa; JusticeLink, LLC; Northside Neighbors, LLC; Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative, LLC; OKPOP Foundation; Outdoor Classroom, LLC; Phoenix Development Council Tulsa, LLC; Policy Initiative; ProsperOK; ProsperOK Initiative, LLC; Take Control Initiative; Terence Crutcher Foundation, LLC; The Opportunity Project; Tulsa Higher Education Consortium; Tulsa Immigrant Development Corporation, LLC (doing business as Eastside Rise); Tulsa Jewish Community Fund; Tulsa Responds, LLC; Tulsa Service YearIndividuals who receive a W2 from Oklahoma Watch INC or Arts Alliance Tulsa INC