The Philadelphia Foundation: Art Works Grant Program

The Art Works Grant Program, initiated by the Philadelphia Foundation and Forman Arts Initiative, aims to empower Philadelphia artists and cultural organizations, particularly those serving BIPOC communities. With a budget of $3 million, the program offers annual grants of $25,000 for artists and between $75,000 and $150,000 for community organizations. Grantees also benefit from professional development workshops and consulting services to enhance their operational and artistic capabilities.

Founded in 2021 by Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation, Art Works is a joint $3 million grant program designed to support Philadelphia arts and cultural organizations and artists working in partnership with BIPOC and other underserved communities.
Art Works accepts applications from local cultural nonprofit (or fiscally sponsored) organizations with annual operating budgets between $250,000 and $5 million as well as individual artists with a commitment to incorporating community perspectives into their work.
Four Philadelphia-based artists will be selected annually to receive two-year grants of $25,000 per year. Grants can be used freely by artists. Some artists may wish to use the grant to support the development of new work while others may use it to pay for living or studio expenses. Artists will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works’ programmatic goals.Four community-based organizations will be selected annually to receive two-year, unrestricted grants ranging from $75,000-$150,000.  Organizations will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works‘ programmatic goals.
In addition to the awarded funds, all grantees will have access to experiential professional development workshops and pro bono professional consulting services designed to provide strategic and tactical support on a range of topics including legal, marketing, communications, budgeting and finance, among others.
Art Works also provides grantees the opportunity to host co-operative education students from Drexel University to support programs and operations.
These placements, administered by Drexel’s Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships, are designed to provide students with meaningful work experience in the arts and culture sector.

Eligibility

For Nonprofits Serving This Population:Those who have an established track record of working in partnership with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and other under-served communities.For Artists:The program is open to both visual and performing artists who have experience working with and connection to communities in Greater Philadelphia. Art Works creators should aspire to influence Greater Philadelphia’s civic identity and have deep roots in its communities. Grants for individual artists are considered taxable income.Requirements For Grant Applicants:Nonprofits: 501(c)(3) status; Budgets between $250,000 and $5 million.Artists: Individual artists must operate in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania or Burlington or Camden counties in New Jersey.All applicants should:Be able to demonstrate a commitment to incorporating community perspectives into your work.Aspire to influence Greater Philadelphia’s civic identity and have deep roots in its communities.