Futures Fund is an annual grant program, now in its fifth year, created and administered by The Luminary as a partner in the Regional Regranting Program of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
Donor Name: The Luminary
State: Missouri
City: St. Louis
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/03/2023
Size of the Grant: $2,500 and $8000
Details:
Futures Fund is a regranting initiative organized by The Luminary and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in order to support innovative, experimental and forward-focused artistic projects throughout the St. Louis region. Futures Fund was founded in 2019 to provide essential support to creative projects that exemplify the unique possibilities of St. Louis, deeply engage its past, present and possible futures, and model new ways of working within our region. The fund exists as one of the few opportunities for direct project support for artists in St. Louis.
The Futures Fund is one of 32 re-granting programs developed and facilitated by organizations in Mobile, Birmingham & York (AL), Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Omaha, Phoenix & Tucson, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Portland (ME), Providence (RI), Raleigh & Greensboro (NC), San Francisco, San Juan, (PR), Seattle, and Washington D.C. Together these programs have supported well over 1000 independent art projects in the past ten years, granting more than 4.7 million dollars.
For the 2023 Futures Fund cycle, they are invested in supporting projects based in collaboration that envision more sustainable models of artistic production and accessible modes of engagement. Sustainability can be considered both in terms of the physical environment and towards the welfare of participating artists as well as the communities they inhabit. Accessibility concerns the capacity of work to reach audiences across continuums of disability, geography, education, and taste. Collaborative projects between are highly encouraged; the project lead should identify as a visual artist with a demonstrated practice in visual arts.
Funding Information
Foundation will award a total of up to $60,000 in grants between $2,500 and $8000 each. They expect to award approximately 10-12 grants with an average award of $5000. They strongly recommend asking for the realistic amount needed to fund the project and pay collaborators.
Types of Eligible Projects
- Projects that are initiated by individual artists and collectives within the St. Louis region
- Projects that take place within 40 miles of Downtown St. Louis
- Projects that have a strong visual arts component and visual impact
- Projects organized and implemented by (but not limited to) visual artists, curators, writers, cultural organizers, collectives, collaboratives, or artist-run collectives
- Projects that are open and accessible to the public
- Projects that are innovative to the St. Louis area
Examples of Eligible Projects
- New artist-driven organizations, institutions, collaborations and spaces for presenting and experiencing art and performance.
- Visual arts projects that prioritize engagement or collaboration with other cultural practitioners, community members, and organizations.
- Research projects that center a visual arts inquiry and have a public-facing component, such as a lecture or pedagogical program, attached.
- Socially-responsive projects such as alternative education projects, microcinemas, mutual aid initiatives and more, wherein visual art is the focal point or vehicle for engagement.
- Publications and online networks for distribution of artworks, arts writing, and information
- Public art projects such as murals, outdoor sculptures, or installations with a temporary or permanent physical presence
Project Criteria
- Demonstrate a commitment to community-building, education and/or experimentation
- Respond to contemporary issues of the moment with distinct new models or approaches to arts organizing
- Have a longstanding impact and visibility for visual arts in the region
- Prioritize expanding the conversation of arts and criticism within St. Louis, in context with the greater Contemporary Art World.
For more information, visit The Luminary.
