2026 WaveMaker Grants - CLOSED

Overview

WaveMaker Grants at Locust Projects supports Miami's visionary artists with incubator grants to research, kick off or re-energize innovative artist-driven projects shared in unconventional spaces. Since 2015, WaveMaker has awarded $690,000 in funding to 139 of Miami's visionary artists. WaveMaker is made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts' Regional Regranting Program.

Key Dates

• Submissions open: February 1, 2026
• Virtual info session: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 12pm via Zoom
• Deadline: April 1, 2026 at 11:59pm
• Grantees announced: Late August 2026
• Projects start: After September 1, 2026

Eligibility

• Visual artists, curators, arts writers, cultural organizers, collectives, collaborators, and artist-run spaces at all career stages who reside in Miami-Dade County
• Film, performance, dance, music, and other projects eligible if visual art is the leading component
• Past grantees ineligible unless current R&D recipient (5-year rule)
• If applying as a group: identify one lead contact; lead contact and majority of participants must reside in Miami-Dade County; past grantees cannot be lead contact and project cannot extend past project
• Non-profit organizations and LLCs established for commercial enterprise are NOT eligible
• Projects must engage the public for FREE in unconventional spaces in Miami-Dade County (exhibitions, performances, events, workshops, etc.)
• Projects CANNOT be presented at art museums, arts nonprofits, or commercial galleries

Grant Categories

• New Work / Projects: Grants up to $6,000 each to support creation and presentation of visionary, artist-driven new work/projects
• Long-Haul Projects: Grants up to $6,000 each to support sustaining, completing, or growing visibility for long-term projects
• R&D + Implementation: Grants up to $2,000 each to support research and development; after R&D phase, grantees can submit short-form proposal for additional $4,000 to implement projects pending panel review

Selection Criteria

• Overall idea, vision, and artistic innovation
• Relevance to local social, cultural, and/or geographic context
• Accessibility of the project to the public for FREE outside museum, gallery, or nonprofit arts organization
• Capacity of applicant to realize project on time and within realistic budget
• Potential impact on local community, arts and culture landscape, and/or artist's growth and practice expansion

Application

There is no application fee. For accommodations or assistance completing your application, contact [email protected]. Please review all available information at www.wavemakergrants.org before submitting.

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.wavemakergrants.org