Organizer Information:

VIA Art Fund. A nonprofit organization that champions the production of new work reflecting artistic excellence and innovation, emphasizing Artistic Production, Thought Leadership, and Public Engagement.

Title & Description:

Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) are open for the Fall 2026 Artistic Production Grant Cycle.

These grants fund the production of newly commissioned works of visual art. Crucially, VIA funds projects that take place outside traditional museum or gallery walls, focusing instead on the public realm or non-traditional exhibition environments.

Category:

Public Art & Visual Arts (Excluding performing arts, theater, and musical compositions).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Open to individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and cultural institutions in contemporary art. Organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status.
  • Exhibition Type: VIA strictly does NOT fund museum or gallery exhibitions, curatorial projects, artist residencies, or youth education programs. The work must be in the public realm or a non-traditional environment.
  • Geographic Rule: * If the artist is based internationally, the project MUST take place in the US.
    • If the project venue is outside the US, the artist MUST be based in the US.
    • (US-based artists may execute projects in the US).
  • Confirmed Venue: The project MUST have a confirmed exhibition venue/presenting partner at the time of the LOI submission. Applicants must include a letter of support from the hosting venue.
  • Confirmed Artist: Organizations applying must have a confirmed artist at the time of LOI submission.
  • Alumni & Reapplication Rules: Previous grantees must wait 3 full years before reapplying. Invited applicants who did not receive support must wait 1 full year. Applicants who did not progress past the LOI stage may not submit an LOI for the same project again.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Grant Amount: Funding ranges from $25,000 to $100,000 per project.
  • (Note: Grants at the upper levels are generally reserved for permanent installations or works that will be gifted to a US public collection).

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Application Fee: Free to apply.

Application Requirements:

  • The process begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). If selected, applicants are invited to submit a full application.
  • LOI Requirements for Artists: Name/contact info, a 2-page project description (venue details, artist statement, request amount), a balanced project budget, a project timeline, an updated CV, and a website link.
  • LOI Requirements for Organizations: Similar to above, but must include both a balanced project budget AND the organization's current annual operating budget, plus proof of nonprofit status.

How to Apply?

Complete the eligibility assessment and submit your LOI via the official VIA Art Fund application portal.

Key Dates:

  • LOI Deadline: May 21, 2026.
  • Invitation to Submit Full Application: June 24, 2026.
  • Full Application Deadline (Invite Only): July 23, 2026.
  • Grant Award Notification: November 2026.
  • Project Start Date Constraint: Projects must start after December 15, 2026.

Location:

US or International (Subject to the Geographic Rule detailed above).

Contact Information:

Website & Application Link: https://viaartfund.org/apply/