The Open Spaces Program supports temporary, place-based public art projects that resonate with communities in San Francisco and Oakland.
Donor Name: Kenneth Rainin Foundation
State: Califronia
City: San Francisco and Oakland
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/17/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation’s Open Spaces Program supports artist-driven temporary, place-based public art projects that resonate with communities. This grantmaking program funds projects at different stages of development that feature generative collaboration between artists, communities and nonprofit organizations to realize ambitious, risk-taking projects.
The Open Spaces Program prioritizes:
- Visionary and timely projects that expand the boundaries of public art and support artists in advancing their practices
- Collaborations across various disciplines, diverse media and technology
- Projects that are relevant to and engage communities in Oakland and San Francisco
- Projects that take place in Oakland and/or San Francisco
- Projects that leverage civic and neighborhood resources and cultural assets, including outdoor and nontraditional sites accessible by public transportation
- Compensating artists at a significant level
- Mutually beneficial partnerships between artists and collaborators
- Projects that are accessible to the widest possible audience, including historically underserved audiences
- Projects that are temporary in nature but are publicly accessible for at least a month
- Tracking outcomes and project evaluation.
Open Spaces Program Grant Tracks
Applicants can apply for one of two Open Spaces Program grant tracks:
- Development Support Grants of $15,000-$20,000 fund projects in their initial stages over a 24-month grant period. In addition to the grant amount, grantees receive support to document their project and can choose to be paired with an experienced public art advisor for the project’s duration. Development Support Grants fund the research, design and planning phases of a large scale, temporary public art project. Projects must feature a partnership and include community engagement activities to be competitive for funding. Note: being awarded a Development Support Grant does not guarantee receiving a Production Support Grant in a future year, however, it sets the stage for a strong Production Support Grant application.
- Production Support Grants of $100,000-$175,000 fund the implementation of late-stage projects over a 24-month grant period. In addition to the grant amount, grantees also receive support to document their project and can choose to be paired with an experienced public art advisor for the project’s duration. Production Support Grants fund the production and premiere of a temporary public art project that has been thoroughly developed and planned. Projects must feature strong, authentic partnerships as a vehicle for creating impactful temporary public art, include relevant community engagement activities and have a sustained public presence of at least a month to be considered for funding. Note: Production Support grants are highly competitive and they rigorously assess applications for the stated criteria.
Grant Period
Project activities must take place within the 24-month grant period: January 1, 2026–December 31, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
They accept applications that meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must demonstrate the capacity for effective project management, including facilitating community engagement, project promotion, documentation and evaluation. If applicable, demonstrated evidence of technical expertise, ability to obtain city approvals and permits and ongoing maintenance plan.
- Bay Area artists or artist collectives may apply in collaboration with a Bay Area nonprofit partner or fiscal sponsor.
- Bay Area nonprofits must apply in collaboration with a Bay Area artist or artist collective.
- Nonprofit and fiscal sponsor partners must be able to make payments to artists and team members, maintain project financial records and if applicable, hold general liability insurance to indemnify the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and property owner.
- If you are a return applicant who is re-applying for the same project, contact Arts Program Staff.
- Open Spaces Program grantees who were awarded funding in 2024 are not eligible to apply in 2025.
For more information, visit KRF.
