Application Guidelines

WHO CAN APPLY?

• Applicants must identify as a woman and/or female, including trans women and people of variable gender identities who were designated female at birth
• Applicants must be 18 years or older on or before March 5, 2024
• Applicants must be the project lead, but collaborative projects are eligible and encouraged to apply
• Applicants must have residence in one of the 50 states, a Tribal Nation, a U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia on the grant deadline
• Applicants must be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, or O-1 visa holder
• Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind during the grant term (August 2024 to August 2025)
• Applicants can be past recipients of other NYFA and AWAW grant programs
• Recipients of the grant are open to accept additional funds from other donors
• NYFA and AWAW employees, members of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, and/or an immediate family member of any of the above cannot apply

WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE?

• Projects must have a focus on environmental issues. Environmental art projects that qualify for this program may focus on the following themes, but are not limited to:
  
  • Regeneration
  • Eco-social engagement 
  • Decarbonization as decolonization
  • Ecofeminism
  • Climate change / climate collapse
  • Systems-restoration
  • Interspecies relationships
  • Natural or built systems
  • Recycling and repurposing
  • Clean energy production
  • Bioplastics

• The funded project or phase of the project must be completed by August 2025. The AWAW EAG is seeking to advance existing projects that are already in development to complete a project in full or to complete a phase of a project. New projects are not eligible to apply.
• Projects must have a public engagement component that is free to attend and takes place within the grant term (August 2024 to August 2025).
• Funds must be used to complete the project outlined in the application form. Funds may be reallocated as necessary to complete the project.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applications must be submitted in English.

Applicants will need to provide the following information:

• A detailed synopsis of the project. 
  • Please give an overview of your project’s themes and overall goals. 
• Current state of the project and plans for completion by August 2025.
  • While we understand that an applicant’s overall project might extend beyond the grant term, we ask that applicants complete a phase of their project, with a public engagement component, during the grant period from August 2024 to August 2025. Please include a narrative or calendar of events/key milestones.
• The environmental and social impact of the project.
  • Please provide a statement detailing how your project directly explores or impacts environmental issues.
• Plans for public engagement.
  • Please provide a statement detailing the public engagement component in the proposed project.
  • The public engagement component is required to be free, open to the general public, and must be completed by August 31, 2025. Online events are acceptable as long as they are attended by a live audience. The public engagement component must add value to the public sphere rather than solely benefiting the artist’s private gain.
• Biographies of the applicant and any core team members involved in the project.
• Project Budget.
  • Applicants are required to submit a detailed project budget.
  • Budgets should outline proposed totals of artist fees, equipment rentals, marketing, and other project expenses and income.
  • Additional space to describe the anticipated use of funds and how they will move your project forward will be provided.
• Work Samples.
  • Representative of the applicant’s grant project
  • Can upload up to 5 work samples
  • Work sample descriptions, titles, dates, and timestamps are to be included in the metadata field within the application

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Eligible applications are reviewed and scored by a panel based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Project Clarity and Feasibility

• The project concept and logistics are clearly described. Key participating artists and collaborators are identified and their roles are clearly defined.
• The timeline and budget are clear and realistic in relation to the project’s scope.
• AWAW EAG is seeking to advance existing projects that are already in development. What stage is the project in development and how will the applicant use these funds towards the next phase? Milestones should reflect the progress of the project to date.

2. Environmental Impact and Community Engagement

• The applicant is able to clearly outline the environmental and/or social impact  they are trying to affect and how they plan to achieve that impact.
• Does the scope of the project match the goals for impact? Are the goals for impact feasible?
• How are the goals for impact communicated to the target audience? How will the project engage its audience?

3. Creativity and Artistic Merit

• The applicant is able to provide documentation of a sustained commitment to their art practice.
• An applicant’s artist statement/mission reflects the proposed project’s goals, and is reflected in the quality of their submitted work samples.
• Work samples should be representative of the applicant’s grant project, and the applicant or their project collaborators must be the originating artists of all work samples submitted. 

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

To request an accommodation or if you need assistance in applying online, please email [email protected]. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, and no later than Thursday, April 4 to allow adequate time for staff to support the applicant before the deadline.

All questions should be directed to [email protected].