Digital Changemaker Grant: Bold Initiatives for Small & Midsize Arts & Cultural Organizations (U.S.)

Deadline: 11-Dec-20

The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant program for Digital Changemaker in the Arts. Five grants will be disbursed among small and midsize cultural organizations in Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas.

This grant aspires not only to help organizations execute cutting-edge digital projects, but also to raise the bar on what is perceived as possible for smaller institutions to achieve by funding examples that inspire institutions nationwide.

Funds can be used for myriad purposes, including but not limited to curating digital exhibitions, improving overall audience engagement with the organization, digitizing collections, and improving accessibility to content and services. All projects should set realistic, measurable goals, and have a concrete plan for evaluating their achievements.

Funding Information

5 year long grants of up to $100,000 each, with the possibility of a one-year renewal of up to another $100,000.

Eligibility Criteria

The grant supports organizations that are:
- Operating at an annual budget between $500,000 and $10,000,000.
- Doing groundbreaking and essential work in the fields of art & culture.
- Cultural organizations including but not limited to museums, cultural centers, tribal organizations, libraries, and local art councils.
- Committed to equity in their hiring, leadership, programming, and institutional culture.
- Already integrating digital approaches into their overall strategy to reach new audiences, connect with visitors in new ways, and attain greater financial stability.
- Willing to share their successful research, initiatives, and findings with the broader arts community, including the cohort of other Digital Changemaker Grantees.
- Able to effectively leverage the Digital Changemaker Grant to secure additional funding from other sources.
This grant does not support:
- Projects that only advance the goals of one department or aspect of your organization, or that lack a public-facing element.
- “Quick fix” thinking around digital projects (e.g., merely adding iPads to a gallery to make it “digital”).
- For-profit organizations, commercial galleries, or individuals.
- Expenditures that have taken place before the grant period.
- Organizations exclusively devoted to the performing arts. Applicant organizations must engage with visual/material culture in a significant capacity.