Grant Criteria

What kind of art does BRAF fund?

We fund interactive art. We fund art that is accessible to the public, civic in scope and prompts the viewer to act. We like art that can be experienced in more ways than visually. We are fans of art that is meant to be touched, heard or experienced, as well as viewed. We prioritize funding art that involves the audience in its creation and presentation.

We suggest you browse our website and look at the past grant recipients to get an idea of what we’ve funded in the past.

What is INTERACTIVE ART?

Your project should meet the following criteria:

• Art that requires human interaction to complete the piece.
• Art that prompts people to interact with one another.
• Art that responds to participants and to its environment.
• Art that causes people to reflect on the larger community.
• Art that challenges the viewers’ traditional perspective on art.
• Art that belongs to the public and exists for the benefit of all.

What kind of work does BRAF not fund?

Although we are open to all proposed forms of media, there are some common projects that typically fall outside the scope of our criteria. The exception to all of the examples listed below would be if the project had a highly interactive element that moves the project outside the definitions of its genre.

We typically do not fund:

• Static work, such as sculpture with no interactive component
• Gallery work, such as paintings in a gallery
• Publications – poetry books, photo books, fiction, etc
• Photography
• Screenplays or films
• Musical, theater or dance productions
• Social aid/relief efforts
• Entrepreneurial endeavors
  

We are open to your ideas. If your work is extremely collaborative and participatory, please feel free to apply, even if your media is listed above. Feel free to call or email us with questions.

Who can apply?

Black Rock Arts Foundation gives grants to individual artists or artist collectives that create interactive artworks destined for communities in the world at large; there are no geographic restrictions placed on those who can apply. If you’ve applied for or received a BRAF grant previously, you may apply again. Individuals, groups and established 501c3 non profits are all eligible to apply.

What level of funding is awarded through the Black Rock Arts Foundation Grant Cycle?

Our grants generally range between $500 and $6,000. In 2010, we aspire to award about 8 grants. We expect to receive as many as 300 applications. Occasionally, we will fund a project with a slightly larger budget.

Many of our grantees receive funding from other sources, aside from Black Rock Arts Foundation. Applying for partial funding or a matching grant to funds you’ve received from other sources is permitted.

When are applications available and due?

Applications for the 2010 Grant Cycle will be available on October 15th 2009, and are due January 15th 2010, at 5:00pm, Pacific Standard Time. After this, our online application will close and will no longer be available.

When will awards be announced?

Awards for the 2010 grant cycle will be announced and grantees will be notified no later than Monday, March 15, 2010.

What can I expect if I am awarded a grant?

Awarded grantees receive their first funding in April, and are expected to complete their project within the proposed time line. The payment schedule for each grant is specific to the project. The foundation is committed to working with each artist to arrive at a schedule that best suits the needs of the artist and the project. Generally, grants are awarded in three increments over the course of a year, each payment being contingent on an interim report of your project’s progress.

Do I have to have a fiscal agent?

No, you do not have to have a fiscal agent – although some projects do have one.

Please be aware:

The Black Rock Arts Foundation DOES NOT fund any art destined for the annual Burning Man event. The Burning Man organization has a separate process for providing grants for artworks destined for the Burning Man event. If your artwork is destined for the playa, please visit the Burning Man website at www.burningman.com for further details on their grant application process.

Black Rock Arts Foundation grant awards are considered taxable income to the recipient, and require a 1099 Form, which we will provide. You will be asked to sign a contract, outlining the payment schedule of your grant as well as the interim report requirements. Contracts must be signed no later than April 1, 2010.

Because of the number of applications we receive, please know that we prioritize funding to highly interactive, publicly accessible and truly innovative works that meet most if not all of the above criteria.

Application submission instructions

In 2010 we launch our new online application. In the application, you will have the opportunity to tell us about your project, its goals, audience and interactive potential. 

A complete application includes:

1. The completion of the online application. We will not be accepting printed and mailed applications this year.
2. A timeline. Our online application has a format you may use, or follow the instructions in the application to submit it via email.
3. A budget. Follow the instructions in the application to submit a budget via email.
4. Any supplemental materials (optional) you wish to include. Follow the submission instructions in the application.

• The online application submits your proposal when you click 'Submit Your Application' at the end of the application. Once you submit your application, you cannot re-enter the online form to edit your answers.
• It is recommended that you preview the questions that will be on the application before you begin the online application.

• We also recommend creating your own document (a Word document, for example) with the answers to your questions, for your records.
• This preview documents are for preview only. Do not mail us your completed application. Mailed applications will not be accepted. You must fill out the online application to be considered.
• After successfully completing the application, you be redirected to a page that will confirm the receipt of your application. You will NOT receive an email confirmation of your application. If your application is incomplete, you will be notified.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2010 GRANTS ARE NOW CLOSED. Please join our mailing list to be alerted to when 2011 applications and criteria are available. 

If you are unable to complete the online application, or have any other questions, please contact:

Josie Schimke

josie@blackrockarts.org

415.626.1248