Organizer Information:

WaveMaker Grants is administered by Locust Projects, Miami’s longest-running nonprofit alternative art space. The program is part of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts’ Regional Regranting Program, a national network of 36 regranting partners.

Title & Description:

The 2026 WaveMaker Grants provide incubator funding to research, kick off, or re-energize innovative, artist-driven projects. The program supports visionary work that is shared with the public for free in unconventional spaces (e.g., public parks, streets, or non-traditional venues). Projects cannot be presented at traditional art museums, nonprofits, or commercial galleries.

Category:

Visual Arts & Multidisciplinary.

(Open to film, performance, dance, and music, provided visual art is the leading component).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Visual artists, curators, arts writers, cultural organizers, collectives, and artist-run spaces at all career stages.
  • Residency Requirement: The lead applicant and the majority of participants must reside in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
  • Exclusions: Non-profit organizations and commercial LLCs are not eligible. Past grantees from the last 5 years are ineligible (with some exceptions for R&D recipients).
  • Public Access: All projects must be accessible to the public for FREE.

Program Benefits & Awards:

A total of $60,000 is awarded annually across three categories:

  • New Work / Projects: Grants of up to $6,000 for the creation of visionary new work.
  • Long-Haul Projects: Grants of up to $6,000 to sustain or grow visibility for long-term artistic endeavors.
  • R&D + Implementation: $2,000 for research and development, with a chance to apply for an additional $4,000 for implementation.

Application Fee:

Free.

Application Requirements:

Submissions are made via Submittable and include:

  1. Applicant information and category selection.
  2. Project description (can be submitted as text, audio, or video clips).
  3. Budget breakdown.
  4. Work samples (at least one high-quality representative image; optional audio/video/writing).

Key Dates:

  • Submissions Open: February 1, 2026.
  • Virtual Info Session: February 20, 2026 (12 PM via Zoom).
  • Application Deadline: April 1, 2026 (11:59 PM).
  • Announcements: Late August 2026.
  • Project Start Date: After September 1, 2026.

Location:

Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA.

Contact Information:

Email: digital@locustprojects.org

Website: https://www.wavemakergrants.org/