Grants

The Grants for Visual Artists award provides direct support to under-recognized artists 21 years or older.

The application portal for the 2023 grant cycle is now closed. Please check back in February 2024 for our next application cycle.

A $15 application fee is required. As a small non-profit with limited staff, we rely on these fees to ensure an easy-to-use open application platform and a thorough and equitable review process involving a diverse group of professional advisors. Artists who are experiencing financial hardship may request a fee waiver by submitting a written request to mwest@harpofoundation.org.  Fee waiver MUST be requested BEFORE submitting your application.

Applicants must use the foundation’s online application system to submit the following:

• Artist resume
• Artist statement (up to 200 words)
• Work samples (up to 10)
  • • All images should be formatted as .jpg files with the .jpg extension in the title. No other image formats are accepted.
    • Accepted video file formats are .mp4 or .mov. 
    • Accepted audio file format is .mp3
    • Image file size must be no larger than 2MB per image to open properly (images are viewed digitally and will not be printed)

• Self-defined under-recognized visual artist 21 years or older
• Must be a United States citizen
• Students who (as of the date of this year’s deadline) are currently enrolled in an art-related degree program,  have been enrolled in an art-related degree program within the last 12 months, or are planning to attend an art-related degree program in the coming year are NOT eligible.
• Not a previous recipient of a direct artist grant from Harpo.
• Artists who have been supported by an organizational grant from Harpo in the past are eligible to apply for a direct grant.

Applications are evaluated on the basis of the quality of the artist’s work, the potential to expand aesthetic inquiry, and the ability to fulfill the foundation’s priority to provide support to visual artists who are under-recognized by the field.

Funding decisions are made by the Board of Directors, following review of applications by independent professional advisors, including regional, national, and international experts in a wide range of disciplines. Each application is reviewed by at least three advisors. Finalist applications will have been reviewed by a minimum of 5 advisors as well as internal staff and committees over the course of four rounds of consideration.

Awards are made up to $10,000.  The number of awards is determined each year by the annual granting budget. Grants are made to support the development of artists’ work and a grantee may use their award to support any activity toward that purpose.

A report detailing how funds were used is due within 10-months of receiving funds.

Grant decisions are usually announced no later than December 1.

Visit our FAQ page or contact us.

Previous Recipients

Previous Recipients