Grants - How to Apply - The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation

Overview

The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation supports arts activities across the University of Pennsylvania community with grant opportunities for Penn faculty, staff, students, departments, programs, and centers. Grant awards range in amount, with the largest being $25,000, and provide funding for a wide variety of activities aligned with the funder's vision to support teaching, making, and presenting art, consistent with their aim to provide Penn students with increased access to the arts.

Application Status

The 2026 Sachs Program grant cycle is currently closed. Award decisions for Student Grant applications submitted in the 2026 grant cycle will be made in February 2026. All other annual grant award decisions will be made in March 2026.

Student Grants

The Sachs Program offers grant opportunities to University of Pennsylvania undergraduate and graduate students as well as student groups, providing up to $3,500 to support creative practice, including independent projects, thesis and dissertation-related work, and programs and initiatives that engage the student body or broader public.

Annual Grants for Faculty & Staff

• Artist Residency Grants: up to $25,000 to departments, programs, and centers to bring artists, curators, and collectives to Penn as artists-in-residence or curators-in-residence.
• Community Partnerships Grants: up to $15,000 to support collaborations between Penn faculty, staff, departments, programs, and centers in partnerships with community arts and civic organizers and non-profit organizations.
• Curricular Support Grants: up to $3,500 to non-standing faculty for the implementation of arts-based activities in a currently running or scheduled course, or for research and professional development related to a course they are teaching.
• Independent Creative Production Grants: up to $7,500 to faculty and staff to support the production of their own artistic work.
• Project Support Grants: up to $7,500 to faculty and staff, departments, programs, and centers to support engagement with the arts and humanities through projects directed towards the Penn community or the broader public.

Rolling Grants

Rolling Grants provide up to $1,500 to faculty, staff, departments, programs, and centers to support urgent requests in the arts and humanities, available outside the annual Sachs Program grant cycle schedule.

2026 Information Sessions

Following the opening of the 2026 grant cycle in September 2025, the Sachs Program will host a series of information sessions during October and November to review 2026 grant opportunities. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend to learn about each opportunity in discussion with Sachs Program staff and previous grantees.

Contact

For more information about Sachs Program grant opportunities and application guidelines, email Sachs Program Associate Director Chloe Reison at [email protected]. Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates about Sachs Program grant opportunities.