The Arts Writers Grant supports both emerging and established writers who are writing about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—these grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. We also support art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods or experiments with literary styles. As long as a writer meets the eligibility and publishing requirements, they can apply.
By “contemporary visual art,” we mean visual art made since World War II. Projects on post-WWII work in adjacent fields—architecture, dance, film, media, music, performance, sound, etc.—will only be considered if they directly and significantly engage the discourses and concerns of contemporary visual art.
We have an open application process; all writers who meet the eligibility requirements can apply. The general eligibility requirements are listed below.
For eligibility requirements and writing sample instructions for each project type, click here.
We recommend that you read through the Application Guide, available for download on the right-hand sidebar, before filling out the online application.
To view the application questions click here.
All applications must be submitted using SlideRoom. To begin the application click here.
If you have applied for an Arts Writers Grant before, you can login to your SlideRoom account here to apply for the 2023 grant and to view previous submissions.
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2024
To be eligible for this grant, an arts writer must be
- an individual;
- applying for a project about contemporary visual art;
- an art historian, artist, critic, curator, journalist, or a writer in an outside field who is strongly engaged with the contemporary visual arts;
- a U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the United States, or holder of an O-1 visa (if your application advances to the final round, you will need to submit current documentation);
- at least twenty-five years old by Oct 1 in the application year;
- a published author (specific publication requirements vary depending on grant category; see the project-specific eligibility requirements).
Website Link: Guidelines – Arts Writers Grant