Platform Fund Grants

The Platform Fund Grants, initiated by Antenna, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, and the Andy Warhol Foundation, support independent artists and collectives in the Greater New Orleans Area. Established in 2007, the grants are categorized into Research & Development, Visual Arts Project Implementation, and Culture Bearer Implementation. These grants target projects that foster community engagement and artistic innovation, allowing applicants to apply once annually while providing specific eligibility criteria to ensure support reaches those most in need.

The Regional Regranting Program was established in 2007 to recognize and support the movement of independently organized, public-facing, artist-centered activity that animates local and regional art scenes but that lies beyond the reach of traditional funding sources.
Platforms Fund Grants are awarded in three categories: Research & Development, Visual Arts Project Implementation, and Culture Bearer Implementation
Research & Development Grants are awarded to projects in the early stages of research and project development. These projects will submit: project statements, research and organizing methods, Resume, website, images, past work, etc. These projects are eligible to apply for future Project Implementation funding.
Visual Arts Project Implementation Grants are awarded to projects that are presented throughout the granting period. These projects will submit confirmed partners, final budgets, and an established timeline for implementation.
Culture Bearer Implementation Grants will fund projects with visual elements of community engaged works that have roots in or pay homage to the cultural creatives and cultural entities, and Indigenous groups of New Orleans. This may include visual documentation, books, educational workshops, the production and sewing of suits, and second line or baby doll costumes. These projects will submit: Project description (concept), budget, community partners, timeline, samples of past work.
Platforms Grants will be awarded in the category chosen at the time of application. You can apply for a Platforms Grant once annually. Should you receive a Research & Development Grant, you are eligible to apply for a Visual Arts or Culture Bearer Implementation Grant the following year. However, should you receive a Project Implementation Grant, you must wait two years to apply for another grant for any project if you are listed as a lead organizer for the previously funded project. You can only apply to one category.

Eligibility

The Platform Fund awards grants to visual artists, collectives, collaboratives, curators, cultural organizers, artist-run spaces, and culture bearers
who do not have a LLC or 501c3 connected to their creative activities.who are currently residing in the Greater New Orleans Area (Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, and St. Tammany Parishes or within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans in Louisiana) and have been for the past 3 years or more.Artist-led projects can partner with otherwise excluded incorporated businesses (see above), but the project must be distinct and separate from that organization’s regular programming.

Ineligibility

You are NOT eligible to apply if:
Your project is a festivalYou are part of one of Antenna’s Fiscally Sponsored ProjectsYou are currently a student. The work we are looking to fund should come from independent and experienced artists. Students, therefore, cannot apply as the main recipient of Platforms Fund grants because their work can be heavily influenced by the institution of which they are a part.Previous “Project Implementation” grantees must wait a full two years from the date of their last grant award to re-apply for funding. Research grantees are eligible to apply the year following their research grant.