The Investing in Artists Tools & Equipment is administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a trusted intermediary focused on the economic security of individuals in the arts, with funding support provided by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
Donor Name: Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/26/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment will award funding through a competitive grant application process. Competitive applicants will present a clear request, demonstrate a sustained commitment to their craft discipline, and illustrate how funding will provide linchpin support, such as enabling the artist to meet demand, address safety requirements or other regulations, replace outdated or damaged equipment, or reach a higher standard of quality or craftsmanship.
Eligible Expenses
- New or used tool/equipment purchases
- Repairs to broken equipment
- Installation of equipment
- Materials needed to build equipment
- Tool/equipment storage
Funding Information
- Award Range: $1,000–$5,000
- Funding Available: $60,000
Grant Period
September 2026–September 2027 .
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Identify as an individual working craft artist
- Align with CCI’s definition of craft
- For the 2026 funding round, eligible applicants must reside full-time in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, or Virginia.
- In 2024, funding was available to craftspeople residing full-time in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- In 2025, funding was available to craftspeople residing full-time in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
- Presented artistic work in a public context—including online/digital platforms—within the last three years
- Are 18 years or older at the time of the application deadline.
Ineligibility
- Artist collectives, coops, or collaboratives;
- Nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations;
- Recipients of the Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft, administered by United States Artists;
- Incomplete applications and those with inaccessible work samples or other required files;
- Full-time or matriculating students;
- Applicants who submit more than one application;
- Requests to support training in or experimentation with a new medium;
- Requests for routine art materials or supplies;
- Requests for fixed costs (e.g., studio rent, equipment/tool insurance or ongoing maintenance, utilities);
- Requests to support capital improvements or repairs, purchases made before the award of the grant, consultant fees, personal compensation, or payment of debts, credit cards, loans, or other financial responsibilities; and
- Applicants who have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of CCI or the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
For more information, visit CCI.
