The Open Fund Artist Project Grant application is now closed. Please check back for 2023 application details:


Application Details

The 2023 TOF Grant will be available online, date tbd. Applications submitted in English must be completed through the online portal, which will be accessible at www.theopen.fund

For individuals submitting an application in an alternative language, please use the application outline below and submit via email to: apply@theopen.fund

The application will include the following six sections; please use this as a guide to prepare your application in advance:

1) Contact Info
— Please provide the following information for the Lead Organizer:

    • Name

    • Address

    • City

    • Email

    • Phone

    • We encourage applications from artists belonging to underserved communities. Please check all that apply. (DROP DOWN MENU) (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, other)

2) Project Summary

  • Title of Project

  • Project Start Date

  • Project Completion Date

  • Total Project Budget

  • Project Summary (100 word max)

3) Visual Support Materials

Visual support materials should help the jurors understand the project and your ability to realize it.

For each of your support materials, please include a description and relevant explanatory notes (max 50 words per entry). Please provide 10 visual examples, including:

  • Images (up to 10 total, max 2MB each — .jpeg, .jpg, .gif and .png are accepted)

  • Website URL (up to 2 total — must be relevant to the project and offer additional information on your ability to realize the proposed project)

  • Video (up to 2 total, max 2 min each — video files must be hosted on a video platform such as YouTube or Vimeo; include a password in the description section if your account is private)


4) Project Description

  • Describe your project (max 100 words for each question):

  • What is your project?

  • How does this project involve the work/practices of other individuals?

  • How will you determine others involved?

  • Where will the project ideally take place?

  • What is the project timeline?

  • Who is your primary audience?

  • What component of your project will be accessible to the public?

  • Why is it important for this project to occur?

5) Bios

Please provide a short bio for the lead organizer, as well as any key collaborators and artists (up to 5 bios, max 100 words each). Focus on experience relevant to this project. We will not accept CVs or resumes.

6) Budget

Please list expenses for your project. This program supports fair pay for all artists involved with your project; Lead Organizers may budget up to 15% of the total grant requested for their time organizing the project ($750 for a $5,000 grant).

You are not expected to have additional income for the project outside of the The Open Fund grant, but please indicate it if you plan to do additional fundraising and what your goals are. Your budget must show a zero balance between your Expenses and Income.

  • Expenses (Lead Organizer stipend, artist stipends, materials, facility rental, equipment rental, production costs, marketing, reception costs, other)

  • Income (other grants, crowd funding, personal contributions, etc. — not required)

  • In-Kind donations (donated location, pro-bono design services, donated materials, etc.)


These guidelines can be made available in alternative formats or languages. To accommodate your request, please contact us at apply@theopen.fund or (414) 226-1978.

application available here: https://theopenfund.submittable.com/submit