Public Art Learning Fund

Overview

The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $3,000 to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices. The fund aims to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.

Eligibility

• Be an artist who resides full-time in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont).
• Have an artistic practice that engages the public realm or demonstrate expansion toward public artmaking.
• Have an active Creative Ground profile.
• Proposed professional development opportunity must specifically relate to strengthening your own public art practice.
• Learning opportunity must take place during the grant period (January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027).

Funding Ineligibility

• Artists seeking funding to develop or implement a specific public art project.
• Artists applying for learning opportunities that take place outside the grant year.
• Current PALF grantees and grantees with outstanding reports.
• Past PALF grantees are not eligible to apply for one full calendar year from completing their grantee report.

Eligible Uses

Artists may utilize the Public Art Learning Fund to pursue a specific professional development opportunity to strengthen their public art practice. Examples include attending a conference, workshop, training, or discussion related to building creative or administrative skills. Travel expenses are eligible only when traveling beyond a commutable distance from the artist's home.

Funding Priorities

The fund gives priority to timely opportunities that specifically expand an artist's public art practice with clarity on desired learnings and application to their work. Opportunities that equitably contribute to more just and inclusive public artmaking are prioritized. NEFA welcomes artists at various stages of public artmaking from urban, suburban, and rural communities across all six New England states and recognizes barriers some artists face due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
• Grant period for funded learning opportunities: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
• Complete grantee report due: 40 days after the professional development opportunity is completed

Award & Funding

• Grant awards: $500 to $3,000
• Grant funds provided in full at the beginning of the grant year
• Grants are taxable income; NEFA will issue IRS Form 1099