Deadline: 20-Aug-21
Applications are now open for the Kenneth Rainin Foundation’s Open Spaces Program to support nonprofits to partner with artists to create temporary, place-based public art projects that are responsive to issues relevant to communities in San Francisco and Oakland.
This grantmaking program supports projects that:
- Are visionary, timely projects relevant to the communities they seek to serve
- Include an artist-initiated process of community engagement
- Expand the boundaries of public art and support artists in advancing their practices
- Leverage civic and neighborhood resources and cultural assets
Priorities
As with the Foundation’s other Arts grantmaking programs, the Open Spaces Program is intended to strengthen the Bay Area as a center for experimentation in the arts and aims to support:
- Collaborations across various disciplines, diverse media and technology
- For projects with planned in-person activities, in accordance with public health guidelines:
- Projects taking place outdoors at sites accessible by public transportation
- Projects that compensate artists at a significant level. Projects must designate at least one-third of the grant funds to the artistic project team and their direct expenses for creating the work.
Funding Information
Applicants may apply for either Development Support or Production Support grants:
- Development Support grants range from $10,000-$15,000.
- Production Support grants range from $50,000-$100,000.
- The grant period for both grants is 24 months.
Eligibility Criteria
They accept letters of inquiry from applicants that meet the following criteria:
- Nonprofit organizations or 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsors (requires written agreement). If applying with a fiscal sponsor, contact Arts Program Staff in advance of submitting an application. The fiscally sponsored project and lead artist(s) may not be the same entity.
- Lead applicant(s) must be a Bay Area nonprofit or fiscally sponsored project that is proposing a project in collaboration with a specific artist(s). Artists may be based outside of the Bay Area if a local organization plays a lead role.
- At least one-third of the grant funds must be designated to the artistic project team and their direct expenses for creating the work.
- Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to oversee project management in accordance with public health guidelines, facilitate community engagement, assist with the documentation and evaluation of the project and, if applicable: obtain city approvals and permits, promote the project, as well as assist with ongoing maintenance of the project.
- Applicants must be able to make payments to artist and team members, maintain project financial records and if applicable, hold general liability insurance to indemnify the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and property owner.
- For projects with planned in-person activities:
- Project sites must be in San Francisco and/or Oakland.
- If you’re a return applicant who is re-applying for the same project, contact Arts Program Staff.
- Current Open Spaces Program grantees must complete their previously funded projects before applying for another Open Spaces Program grant. If your project is complete but you have yet to submit your grant report, contact Arts Program Staff. Current NEW and Impact Program grantees should discuss eligibility with Arts Program Staff before applying.
For more information, visit https://krfoundation.org/arts/grants/open-spaces/
