Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists

The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists, a $10,000 annual grant, supports early-career Black trans women artists in the U.S. whose contributions to visual arts are often overlooked. Established in partnership with notable figures, this grant not only provides funding but also offers professional development resources. In its fifth year, it aims to address systemic barriers and enhance representation in the arts, with additional awards for finalists to further their artistic journeys.

The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists is an annual $10,000 grant awarded to provide critical support to Black trans women whose work has often been under-recognized in the visual art field. Now in its 5th year, the Illuminations Grant was developed and named in partnership with Mariette Pathy Allen, Aaryn Lang, and Serena Jara. Winning artists and finalists will receive additional professional development resources and further guidance to bolster their creative development in the field.
“The Illuminations Grant not only highlights the lacking representation of Black trans women in the visual arts,” says Lang, “but also seeks to confront the systemic barriers that deny them artistic opportunities and a sustainable craft. By supporting this grant, Mariette Pathy Allen challenges herself and the art industry to see Black trans women as more than mere subjects, while forging a new pathway for visual artists within this community to thrive.”
In order to further recognize finalists for their artistic achievements, Queer|Art is pleased to announce that the grant will also provide a $1,250 award to four distinguished finalists.
This is a grant for Black trans women who are early-career working in visual art. The grant’s intention is to support Black trans women, who are systematically overlooked and often excluded from formal visual arts institutions due to racialized transphobia and socioeconomic barriers to entry in the visual art world.

Eligibility

Qualified artists must be Black trans women working in visual art and based in the United States. Including the 50 states and its territories. This grant defines “early-career” as follows:    Likely to be receiving grant or fellowship support at this level and amount for the first timeMay be of any ageMay be self-taught or already have a fine arts degreeMay have experience self publishing their work (but not with major publishers)May have exhibited in regional or local galleries or museums (but not major galleries or museums)May have previously received limited grant fundingThe Illuminations Grant defines visual art broadly to include art forms including, but not limited to: ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and fiber arts. While this grant is particularly interested in supporting artists working within 2D and 3D art forms, time-based mediums, such as performing arts and video/film, and beauty arts (makeup, hair, nails, etc.) may also be considered, if the artists see their practice within the  realm of visual art.Artists currently enrolled in college, university, or other educational programs are welcome to apply for this grant.

Ineligibility

Artists with commercial gallery representation should not apply.