TFAA: Exhibition Grants

TFAA: Exhibition Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Terra Foundation for American Art
Amount: US $25,000 - US $200,000
Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Summary

The Terra Foundation for American Art offers TFAA: Exhibition Grants to support institutions in presenting temporary exhibitions that address inequities in American art history. These grants focus on artworks not in the institution's permanent collections and encourage projects highlighting diverse narratives, particularly those from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The foundation aims to foster inclusive practices and broaden the understanding of American art through innovative exhibitions, research, and educational programs.

Overview

Mission The Terra Foundation for American Art is dedicated to fostering exploration, understanding, and enjoyment of the visual arts of the United States for national and international audiences. Recognizing the importance of experiencing original works of art, the foundation provides opportunities for interaction and study, beginning with the presentation and growth of its own art collection in Chicago. To further cross-cultural dialogue on American art, the foundation supports and collaborates on innovative exhibitions, research, and educational programs. Implicit in such activities is the belief that art has the potential both to distinguish cultures and to unite them. TFAA: Exhibition Grants Recognizing current and historical inequities in presentations and understandings of American art history, the Terra Foundation encourages temporary loan exhibitions that address these imbalances and exclusions at institutions worldwide. Terra Foundation Exhibitions grants provide support for organizations to plan and present temporary exhibitions drawn primarily from works not in their permanent collections. To be considered, visual art projects should focus on arts of the United States, including Native American arts. The projects we support can be focused on historical or contemporary art. Contemporary art projects should offer a reflective and critical engagement with histories, arts, and/or art histories associated with American contexts. Priorities and Goals The foundation supports visual arts projects that question and broaden understandings of American art and engage in transforming how the story of American art is told. We encourage projects that: generate knowledge and interpretive frameworks that reflect the range and complexity of American art and its histories through the diversity of artists represented, voices included, and stories toldcenter artists, scholars, communities, and audiences who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color as well as narratives that have historically been excluded from American artcommit to inclusive and equitable practices across project development and implementation in order to lead to structural change We also encourage multilingual written materials if possible and where relevant to the project and/or its audiences.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. For this program, the Terra Foundation accepts proposals only from institutions with United States 501(c)(3) status or its international equivalent.If co-organizing a temporary exhibition with a partner museum, the co-organizers must apply jointly.What We Fund:Grants will offset planning and/or implementation costs for:temporary exhibitions primarily comprising artworks that are not part of the institution’s permanent collectionIf you are seeking support for research and planning (e.g., convenings, travel, research fellows or assistants, advisory groups) related to your institution’s permanent collection and/or for exhibitions drawn primarily from your institution’s permanent collection, please see our Collections grant program.research and planning for temporary exhibitions (e.g., convenings, travel, research fellows or assistants, advisory groups)

Ineligibility

Exhibition Grants are not made to individuals.The Terra Foundation does not accept proposals for:acquisitions or capital expenditures exhibitions of primarily single private or commercial collections, even if on long-term loan to a museum (promised gifts acceptable); exhibitions with works primarily borrowed from a living artist are acceptable exhibitions that are exclusively online exhibitions previously opened that are touring to new venues exhibitions previously declined by the Terra Foundation