Michaela, a Black woman with close cropped hair and red lipstick holds up a collage of magazine clippings and photos attached to a sheet of white paper. She shows the piece to a man with brown hair and glasses. Behind them a brick wall is dotted with colorful paintings.
Applications open↓

Artist-Led Gatherings

Field Funds logo

Each year, A Blade of Grass distributes $25,000 to artists and creative practitioners working throughout the country with 50 grants of $500 each.

Field Funds supports both the public components of a project and the often unseen work that makes collaborative creative practice possible, such as research and relationship building. This program supports specific needs common to socially engaged art including artist-led gatherings, accessibility & translation, and documentation & archiving.

Open Calls

Artist-Led Gatherings

What can this opportunity support?

Artist-led gatherings for practitioners to bring groups of three or more people together. This could be a stand-alone gathering in person or online to further research, chase curiosities, or simply build connections. Or, this opportunity could support a larger project or event that is already in the works. There is no requirement that the gathering be public, and selected practitioners will have the freedom to use the $500 contribution as they see fit.

Gathering proposals can support practitioners to:

  • Pay fees to a facilitator
  • Pay fees to accessibility service providers (ASL interpretation, Communication Access Realtime Translation [CART] or live transcription, image description, etc.)
  • Pay rental or other fees to hosting venues
  • Promote a gathering or event
  • Provide COVID-19 safety measures for events (testing, masks, hybrid options, etc.)
  • Provide food and hospitality
  • Provide honorariums to artists and/or participants
  • Provide travel for participants

What kind of proposals are not eligible?

Proposals from nonprofit organizations or commercial businesses; proposals for events or projects that are not initiated and led by artists; proposals to support the creation of studio work, books, exhibitions, or other presentations; and proposals for activities that take place more than six months after the application deadline.

When should my proposed activities take place?

Selected applicants will receive funds within 10 days of the application due date. All proposed expenses should be spent within six months of receiving funds. Please see the schedule section for the dates for this cycle.

Could requested support go toward a larger project or event that is already planned?

Yes, proposals may be for projects that have already been planned or are underway. All proposed expenses should be spent within six months of receiving funds.