RF: Alaska Art Fund Grant

Overview

Background

Established in 2002 and initiated in 2003, the Alaska Art Fund (AAF), formerly known as the Art Acquisition Fund, stands as a testament to the partnership between Rasmuson Foundation and Museums Alaska.

The Alaska Art Fund fosters a vibrant synergy between Alaskan artists and museums by encouraging museums to collect the works of living Alaskan artists.

In 2022, the program underwent an expansion. In additional to traditional art acquisitions, the program now supports the commissioning of outdoor art, including sculptures and murals. This evolution aims to diversify artistic expressions within museum collections and provide art that is accessible to the entire community.

Mission:

To promote a better life for Alaskans.

Primary program areas of interest:

Arts & culture, health, social services, housing, promotion of philanthropy

Grantmaking philosophy:

The Foundation acts as a catalyst for change; helps Alaskans help themselves; and embraces the diversity within Alaska.

Grantmaking goals:

Civic responsibility and individual philanthropy amongst Alaskans; economic possibilities for Alaskans; educational opportunity for Alaskans; healthy Alaska families; quality health care for Alaskans; strong leaders; vibrant arts and culture in Alaska.

About Museums Alaska

Museums Alaska supports museums and cultural centers in Alaska and enhances public understanding of their value. Museums Alaska maintains a central office to receive and disburse information about museums, cultural centers and their activities, and to collect and share professional opportunities. Museums Alaska organizes an annual conference to focus on the needs of Alaska museum professionals, volunteers, and their institutions. Museums Alaska currently administers two grant programs funded by the Rasmuson Foundation: the Art Acquisition program and the Collections Management program.

Art Acquisition Fund

The Art Acquisition Fund supports grants for Alaska museums to purchase work by practicing Alaska artists. Initiated in 2003, the project is intended to (1) support living, practicing Alaska artists through museum purchases, (2) enhance the permanent art collections of Alaska museums and (3) encourage Alaska museums to develop formal collections policies. The Foundation also provides a regular venue for contemporary Alaska art in the Foundation office in Anchorage.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Art Acquisition Fund Eligibility: 
* Applications are accepted from qualified nonprofit, government, tribal entities or equivalent organizations that hold collections in the public trust, such as a museum or cultural center.
* An institution’s qualified auxiliary or support group may act as the agent for purchasing if it is impossible for a museum to do so directly.
* A museum must be qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code of 1986, and classified as (1) a public charity under Section 509(a) of the IRS Code or, (2) as a unit of government, in selected cases.
* A museum must be able to professionally store and/or care for all works purchased.
* To be eligible, a museum must submit a plan for publicly sharing any works purchased through this program.
* This plan should indicate when and how works will be displayed, shown online, incorporated into educational programming, museum publications, etc.
* Note:
* Rasmuson Foundation, members of the Museums Alaska board of directors, or the Museums Alaska Director will have the opportunity to schedule a visit and see the artwork.
* The amount of artwork to be purchased will be guided by (1) the adopted collection policy, (2) the exhibitions/programs plan, and (3) capacity for maintaining and using collections in keeping with accepted museum standards.
* Please review the stipulations in addition to whatever selection criteria and process the individual museum uses in its normal acquisition process.

Ineligibility

* The Art Acquisition Program does not fund over head or indirect costs, including insurance, security, transportation, travel, shipping, installation, conservation, or staff time expenses.