Who can apply?

U.S.-based groups of 3 or more artists, creative practitioners, and/or culture bearers with a demonstrated history of collaboratively creating socially engaged art. Field Funds uses the terms artist and socially engaged art, but we understand that not all practitioners identify with the same language. Regardless of how they describe their work, eligible applicants will be able to show in their application that their practice:

• Applies creative strategies and interventions that make society more just, kind, safe, and free.
• Involves and builds relationships with communities and collaborators in ways that are meaningful to those they work with.
• Uses processes and skills beyond those used to create studio artwork or traditional performance—including advocacy, dialogue, facilitation, organizing, and research.

Please note that Field Funds does not accept applications from nonprofit organizations or commercial businesses. Eligible groups should identify a representative to be the point person for this application. If selected, this person would sign the agreement on the behalf of your group and coordinate payment of the $500.

What costs related to collective work does this fund support?

This cycle of Field Funds is intended to support cooperative, collective, and collaborative groups of practitioners in gathering or meeting with folks, increasing the accessibility of their projects and practices, and/or tending to the documentation and archiving of their work. This cycle can support the following expense categories for eligible groups:

Gathering

• Pay fees to a facilitator
• Pay rental or other fees to a hosting venue
• Promote event or gathering
• Provide food and hospitality
• Provide honorariums to artists and/or participants
• Provide travel for participants
• Other (Write-in)

Accessibility & Translation

We encourage you to follow the leadership of disabled practitioners and hire disabled people to provide access when possible.

• Hire providers for events and gatherings (ASL interpretation, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), language interpretation)
• Commission providers to make materials accessible (language translation, image description, captioning for documents, presentations, written materials, video, audio, etc)
• Hire access consultants and coordinators
• Commission an accessibility audit of website or other materials
• Make access modifications to physical space
• Offer accessible transportation
• Provide masks, testing, or other COVID safety measures
• Other (Write-in)

Documentation & Archiving

• Commission photo, video, or audio documentation of a project
• Commission written documentation or reflection on a project
• Commission image descriptions, audio descriptions, captioning or other accessibility work for documentation
• Pay for support to design, create, or contribute to an inventory system of files or materials
• Digitize analog media or documents
• Buy supplies needed to house archival materials
• Pay for web hosting, inventory management, database subscriptions, or storage
• Pay other administrative costs for accessing and maintaining archival materials
• Other (Write-in)

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 artist groups, proposals to support the creation of studio work or presentations, and proposals for activities that take place after 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.