Organizer Information
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation was established in 1988 in honor of Virginia A. Groot, an artist and patron of the arts. Based in Lake Forest, Illinois, the foundation is artist-founded and artist-led. Its mission is to support artists working in three-dimensional forms by providing them with the financial freedom to devote significant time and resources to their craft. Over the past 30 years, the foundation has become a pillar in the sculpture community, advocating for the evolution of sculptural art and fostering a global network of innovative creators.
Title & Description
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation Grant 2026
This grant is a non-restricted, merit-based award designed to allow sculptors and ceramic artists to devote a substantial period of time to the development of their work. Unlike project-specific grants, the Groot Foundation focuses on the artist's overall vision and "unrelenting energy to the craft." The grant aims to remove financial barriers to living, traveling, and creating, allowing artists to launch a new body of work or expand their existing talent without the pressure of immediate commercial or academic requirements.
Categories
- Three-Dimensional Art: This includes Ceramic Sculpture and Sculpture across diverse mediums.
- Interdisciplinary: The foundation celebrates the creative use of material, scale, form, and function, including works that cross traditional boundaries of sculpture.
Eligibility
- International: The foundation encourages applications from artists worldwide.
- Career Stage: Open to artists at any stage of their career development, from emerging to mature.
- Age Limit: Applicants must be at least 21 years old by the application deadline.
- Non-Student Status: Students currently enrolled in or attending any institution of higher learning (full or part-time) are not eligible. Work completed as a student is also ineligible for submission.
- Educators: Teachers are eligible to apply, provided their proposal focuses on their personal development as an artist rather than their pedagogical practice.
Program Benefits & Awards
The foundation offers three annual grant tiers based on merit:
- First Place: $60,000 USD
- Second Place: $30,000 USD
- Third Place: $20,000 USD
- Honorable Mentions: Occasionally awarded to recognize exceptional talent.
- Impact: Winners gain international recognition and the opportunity to have their work documented in foundation publications.
Application Fee
A non-refundable entry fee of $7.00 USD is required via the SlideRoom portal.
Application Requirements
- Portfolio: A selection of high-quality images or media documenting recent, independent work (not student work).
- Project Proposal: A description of how the grant will be used to further the artist's work.
- Professional CV: Detailing the artist's history of exhibitions and practice.
- Artist Statement: Addressing the conceptual and technical aspects of the submitted work.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 January 2026
- Application Cycle: The portal typically opens on June 1st of each year.
- Winner Announcement: Results are traditionally announced in mid-May 2026.
Location
United States
Additional Details
The selection is merit-based rather than need-based. The jury looks for work that demonstrates "transcendence of form" and "dynamism of disciplinary delivery." Because the foundation is artist-led, the review process is deeply focused on the technical and visionary qualities of the sculptural objects submitted.