Rubin Grants Program

The Rubin Museum of Art supports artists, creatives, and scholars in the field of Himalayan art with an annual grant program that aims to expand awareness and understanding of Himalayan art globally and the rich cultural legacy and living traditions of the greater Himalayan region.

Geographic Scope: Global, with focus on Himalayan regions (Bhutan, Central Asia, Chinese Regions, Kashmir/Western Himalayas, Mongolian Regions, Nepalese Regions, Northeastern India, Tibetan Regions)

Focus Areas:

• Art projects and research initiatives
• New exhibitions and research
• Documentation of historic art and architecture
• Digital resources and multimedia projects
• Conservation training programs
• Video installations and documentaries
• Traditional arts preservation
• Scholarly research on Himalayan art and culture

Award Categories:

• Rubin x Research: Academic and scholarly research projects
• Rubin x Art Projects: Artist-led creative projects, exhibitions, and installations

Grant Range: $3,000 - $25,000 depending on the scale, impact, and needs of each project

Total Annual Funding: $200,000 (2024 and 2025 cycles)

Application Process: Applications begin with letters of inquiry (LOI)

• 2024: ~150 applications from 30 countries; 17 projects selected
• 2025: 132 letters of inquiry received; 15 projects selected

Eligibility: Open to emerging and established scholars, artists, nonprofits, and creatives working in Himalayan art from international locations

What They Fund:

• Documentary films
• Research publications
• Exhibitions and immersive installations
• Digital databases and archives
• Conservation and documentation projects
• Multimedia and video projects
• Curriculum development
• Festival and symposium programming
• Graphic novels and educational materials
• Travel grants for PhD research

Recent Award Examples (2024-2025):

• Documenting Buddhist monasteries and heritage sites
• Thangka conservation and restoration projects
• Cham dance documentation
• Living root bridge documentaries
• Mandala creation projects
• Temple and monastery digitization
• Cultural artifact provenance research

Museum Information:

• Name: Rubin Museum of Art (also known as The Shelley)
• Location: 150 W. 17th St., New York, NY
• Website: rubinmuseum.org

Application Process

Application Method: Two-stage process beginning with Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry

• Submit initial LOI describing project concept
• ~150 LOIs received in 2024; ~132 in 2025
• Selected LOI applicants are invited to submit full application

Stage 2: Full Application
Specific application materials and requirements not fully detailed in provided content, but based on award descriptions, likely includes:

• Project description and goals
• Budget and timeline
• Organizational/artist credentials
• Project impact and outcomes
• Deliverables (exhibitions, publications, digital resources, etc.)

Selection Criteria:

• Scale and scope of project
• Impact on Himalayan art awareness and understanding
• Quality and feasibility of project design
• Credentials of applicants/institutions
• Alignment with Rubin's mission

Award Notification: Announced annually (September 2024 and October 2025 cycles noted)

Project Types Accepted:

• Research and scholarly projects
• Art and creative projects
• Documentation and conservation initiatives
• Exhibition and installation proposals
• Multimedia and digital projects
• Educational curriculum development
• Travel grants for graduate research
• Community-based programming

Note: Complete detailed application instructions, narrative questions, and submission portal URL not provided in available content.