Funding the Play: Grants & Residencies for Artists, Fall–Winter 2026

Creative Catalyst · Fall–Winter 2026

Funding the Play: Why Grants and Residencies Matter

One thing I’ve learned throughout my journey as an artist is that some of the most meaningful work happens long before a painting is finished.

When people think about grants, they often think about funding a completed project or exhibition. But some of the most valuable opportunities support the parts of the creative process that people rarely see: the research, the experimentation, the mistakes, the unexpected discoveries, and even the paintings that never make it out of the studio.

For me, that’s where the magic happens.

Grants can give artists something incredibly valuable: the freedom to explore without the immediate pressure to produce something that sells. They allow us to spend time researching, traveling, sketching, learning new techniques, and experimenting with materials. Sometimes the ideas that don’t work out teach us the most about where our practice needs to go next.

And then there are artist residencies, which I absolutely love because they remind us that creating art should also be fun.

There’s something special about stepping away from your everyday responsibilities and entering an environment designed for creativity. Having access to a studio, a supportive community, and sometimes housing and meals gives you the freedom to slow down, be curious, and reconnect with why you fell in love with making art in the first place.

You meet artists from different backgrounds, exchange ideas, experience new cultures, and challenge yourself in ways you might not have imagined. Sometimes you leave with a new body of work. Other times, you leave with fresh inspiration, meaningful friendships, or a completely different perspective on your practice. All of those experiences are valuable.

I’ve been fortunate to participate in fellowships and residencies through organizations and programs including NYFA, Soho House, Studio Kura, and In the Paint. Each experience has contributed something different to my journey, whether it was building community, expanding my creative process, or simply giving myself permission to experiment without knowing exactly what the final result would look like.

I truly believe artists need room to play, make mistakes, and discover new possibilities without feeling like every creative decision has to become a finished product.

That’s why I wanted to put together this list of grants, fellowships, and artist residencies worth exploring this season.

Some are well-known opportunities, while others are hidden gems I’ve discovered through research and conversations within the arts community. My hope is that sharing these resources encourages more artists to apply, take creative risks, and pursue opportunities they might otherwise overlook.

Don’t count yourself out before you even apply. You never know which opportunity might open the next door in your creative journey.

And most importantly, remember to have fun making art. That’s part of why we do this.

Updated October 16, 2026. Grant and residency opportunities are subject to change. Always confirm eligibility requirements, application fees, funding details, and deadlines directly with each organization before applying.

Want to discover more opportunities? Join my mailing list for future updates on artist grants, residencies, creative resources, and opportunities worth sharing.

Fully funded grants

Cash awards that go straight to you and your practice.

Raia Project$50,000 over six monthsEmerging NYC artists in any visual medium without major gallery representationDec 30

Pollock-Krasner Foundation GrantUp to $50,000Painters, sculptors, printmakers and artists on paper with financial need. Great for painters.Rolling

Elizabeth Greenshields FoundationHidden gemCAD $17,000 first grantRepresentational painters, drawers, printmakers and sculptors, early career, 18–41, any country. Four rounds a year.Quarterly

Center for Art & Advocacy Fellowship$10,000 + $10,000 project fundsU.S. artists directly impacted by the justice systemOct 25

NYC Artist Grants (now up to $10,000)NewUp to $10,000NYC artists by borough: Bronx Oct 30, Manhattan Nov 12, Queens Nov 17, Staten Island opens NovOct 30 – Nov

Hopper Prize$4,500 & $1,000 grantsVisual artists worldwide, all mediaNov 17

Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grant$25,000Painters, sculptors and printmakers with 20+ years of mature work and financial need. U.S. or abroad.Jan 16

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship$8,000 unrestrictedNew York State artists. Disciplines rotate each year, so check if painting is in this round.Usually late Jan

Fundación Botín Visual Arts GrantsHidden gem€23,000 for nine monthsVisual artists of any nationality. Covers living, travel, materials and production for research or new work.Usually spring

Creative Capital AwardUp to $50,000 + mentoringU.S. artists with a bold new project. Unrestricted project funding plus career support.Watch for next call

Ingrid's tipPanels fund people, not just pictures. Lead your statement with the question you want time to explore, then show 2–3 images that prove you can carry it out. Reuse one strong project description and tailor the first paragraph to each funder.

Residencies in the USA

Free housing and studio, most with a stipend and travel.

SURF Artist-in-ResidenceHidden gem$5,000 + up to $5,000 for the workMake art inside an underground physics lab in Lead, South Dakota. Airfare, car, housing and per diem covered.Nov 1

Adirondack Experience Residency$5,000 + $500 travel + housingFour months at a museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY. Visual artists with exhibited or sold work.Dec 11

Jentel Artist Residency$300 stipend, private room + studioOne month on a Wyoming ranch, no fee. Summer/Fall 2027 sessions.Jan 15

Roger Tory Peterson Institute$1,000 + housing & travelOne-week nature residency in Jamestown, NYRolling

Kohler Arts/IndustryHidden gem$5,000 + weekly stipend, housing, travel14 weeks working in a real factory pottery or foundry in Wisconsin. Any medium, no experience needed.Watch for next call

MacDowellFree room, studio & meals + need-based stipend2–8 weeks in New Hampshire. $30 application fee.Watch for next round

Ingrid's tipPitch a residency as a place to play. Name one material, technique or community at that site you want to learn from. Show you've done your homework and say what you'll give back: a workshop, an open studio, a mural.

International residencies

Time to work abroad with living and studio costs covered.

Art Explora × Cité internationale des arts€1,000/month + €3,000 production + flight3 or 6 months in a Paris studio apartment. Any nationality, 5+ years of practice.Oct 30

Rome PrizeStipend, housing, studio, mealsAmerican Academy in Rome. Mostly U.S. citizens. Application fee.Nov 1

ACC Galerie Weimar Studio ProgramHidden gem€1,100/month + free apartment & studioFour months in Weimar, Germany. 2027 theme: "On Absence." Any nationality, no age limit.Nov 22

Jan van Eyck AcademieMonthly stipend + studio apartmentResearch residency in Maastricht, Netherlands, for 2028. Application fee.Dec 1

A4 Residency FellowshipHidden gemFlight, studio, housing + RMB 10,000 production8+ weeks in Chengdu, China, for 2028. Apply by email in English and Chinese.Dec 31

Black Rock SenegalRoom, board, studio + stipendKehinde Wiley's residency in Dakar. One open call a year, no fee. Get your portfolio ready now.Watch for next call

Ingrid's tipAbroad, budget for what isn't covered: visa, insurance, materials and the first week of food. Have that money planned so you can say yes fast when the acceptance email comes.

For artist moms

Artists & Mothers GrantBig one$25,000 for childcareNYC mothers with a child age three or under, 5+ years of practice. Opens Oct 26.Jan 4

Sustainable Arts Foundation$5,000 unrestrictedArtists and writers raising childrenCheck portal

Ingrid's tipYou don't have to pick between being a mom and being an artist. Mention your family in your statement only if it shapes the work, and keep your childcare costs written down so your budget is ready when you apply.

Grants for self-care

Your health is part of your practice. These help when life hits.

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency GrantsUp to $5,000Visual artists facing an unexpected medical or dental costNov 17

Gottlieb Foundation Emergency GrantI received this$5,000–$15,000Painters, printmakers and sculptors facing a crisisRolling

Artists' Fellowship, Inc.Hidden gemAverage $2,500U.S. fine artists facing illness, injury, disaster or lossRolling

CERF+$3,000 relief · up to $1,000 Get ReadyCraft artists. Get Ready grants help protect your studio before an emergency.Check site

Ingrid's tipI'm a Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant recipient. Three years ago, when I was in crisis, that grant helped me get through it, and I'm still so thankful for the help I received. If you're going through something hard, please apply. Emergency grants ask for proof, so keep receipts, doctor's notes and your last two tax returns in one folder before you ever need them. Rest is part of the work, so plan it into your year like a deadline.

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