The Open Fund Artist Project Grant

The Open Fund Grant supports innovative visual artist projects that are experimental and community-oriented. Administered by The Poor Farm and The Open, it offers funding of $5,000 to $10,000 for initiatives based in Milwaukee County. Eligible projects must be artist-organized, publicly accessible, and primarily focused on the visual arts. The grant prioritizes collaboration and aims to enhance public engagement through unique artistic expressions, fostering creativity within diverse communities.

Early Review Opportunity- An optional review process is offered this year to support artists and communities who may not have prior experience with grant opportunities, offering constructive feedback and guidance toward successful proposals.
Applications received after March 30 will not qualify for administrator review.Eligible applications received after March 30 and before April 30 (11:59 PM CST) will be considered for funding but will not qualify for administrator review.
The Open Fund Grant
The Open Fund Artist Project Grant supports visual artist initiatives that are experimental, collaborative, and public-oriented. This includes wide-reaching and innovative projects that are unique to communities and the culture at large. Examples of past recipients include the presentation of creative and experimental work via film screenings, exhibition series, pop-up presentations, printed matter, educational models, and civic sites, in addition to other inventive models of artistic engagements.
The Open Fund is administered by two Wisconsin artist-run spaces, The Poor Farm and The Open. In 2024, the Open Fund distributed $120,000 to 14 Visual Arts Projects providing both $5,000 and $10,000 grants to visual artists or artist groups living within the Milwaukee County.
What We Fund
Projects that have a publicly accessible componentProjects could include exhibitions or installations held in temporary spaces, new publications, a series of events or performances, digital initiatives, public art projects, and other activities that are related to the visual arts

Eligibility

Working within the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, social practice, performance, experimental film/video, photography, textiles, ceramics, cross-disciplinary, public art, etc.)Lead organizers must live in the State of Wisconsin.Projects must function primarily within a visual arts context (rather than performing arts, music, literature, or other arts). Projects can have interdisciplinary elements but must have a strong basis in the visual arts.A publicly accessible component of the project must take place within the State of Wisconsin.Projects must be artist-organized and self-initiated; 501c3s, incorporated businesses, and students* are not eligible to apply. (*PhD students are eligible)Projects cannot charge admission or other fees to the public or participants.Projects cannot start before May 1, 2025, and must be completed by May 31, 2026.The Lead organizer must play a key role in the creation and execution of the project and live in the State of Wisconsin; additional collaborators can live anywhere. Lead organizers do not need to be U.S. Citizens but must have social security numbers in order to receive payment.Lead organizers may only submit one application per application round.

Ineligibility

Ineligibility DetailsAn individual artist presenting exclusively their own work.Projects that are part of the programming of a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization, commercial gallery or business.Students* are not eligible to apply. (*PhD students are eligible)Projects that do not offer an opportunity for free public engagement.Projects with the primary focus on film or video production, marketing or distribution, that are not serving the visual arts community.Staff and family members of staff at the Ruth Foundation for the Arts are ineligible to apply for the Artist Project Grant.What We Do Not FundAn individual artist presenting exclusively their own work.Projects that are part of the programming of a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization.Projects at a commercial gallery or by businesses.Projects that do not offer an opportunity for free public engagement.Projects with the primary focus on film or video production, marketing or distribution.