The Artists' Fellowship Emergency Financial Aid
The Artists' Fellowship, Inc.
Professional visual artists seeking emergency financial aid for serious hardships such as illness, natural disaster, or bereavement may apply with documentation of their professional status and emergency situation.
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- rolling, apply anytime
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $2,500
About
Overview
The Artists' Fellowship provides emergency financial aid to professional visual artists and their families during times of hardship such as sickness, natural disaster, bereavement, or other serious emergencies. Assistance is given without expectation of repayment.
Eligibility
Applicants must be professional fine artists currently resident in the United States and its territories. Practicing artists with long careers receive preference, but artists at all stages of career are welcome to apply. Applicants must demonstrate professional practice through formal education, exhibition/publication history, grants and awards, critical response, documented income on Schedule C of a U.S. federal tax return, and ongoing commitment to producing visual art over time.
Eligible media
Artists working in sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, illustration, fine art photography, fine art ceramics, mixed media, performance art, and installation are eligible. Artists whose work is primarily shaped by or made for the market are unlikely to receive aid.
Ineligible applicants
Those working in performing arts (dancers, musicians, actors), literary arts (writers, poets), makeup artists, fashion designers, graphic designers, filmmakers, and commercial photographers are not eligible. Hobbyists and creators with no record of professional activity or income as documented by Schedule C from a U.S. federal tax return are also ineligible.
What qualifies as a serious emergency?
A recent, unexpected hardship such as a natural disaster, medical/dental condition, or consequences of certain accidents causing personal injury or property damage. General indebtedness or lack of employment is not considered a serious emergency. The need must be current and documented, not anticipated.
Application requirements
Applicants must submit a letter explaining the emergency and aid request (maximum two pages), a professional CV/resume, federal tax returns (two most recent, including Schedule C), official ID, and documentation to substantiate the emergency and the amount of aid requested.
Award amount and timeline
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. The average award is $2,500. Applications requesting more than $20,000 will not be considered. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Board of Trustees meets monthly from September through June to review applications; the Board does not meet in July and August. Applicants will be contacted by email within two months of submission. The Board will be on summer hiatus and not accepting applications between June 1 and August 1; the submission link will again be available August 1.
What AF will not fund
- Education or scholarships
- Art exhibitions
- Art residencies or travel expenses
- Art supplies
- Award
- Average award $2,500; maximum $20,000 per application
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Eligibility
- Professional fine artists currently resident in the United States and its territories, with documentation of practicing status; artists at all career stages eligible but practicing artists with long careers preferred.
- Priority given to
- Practicing artists with long career given preference
- Audience
- Professional fine artists and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.