How To Get Free Art Grants For Senior Citizens – Making a living as a senior artist can be taxing at times. It becomes difficult to concentrate or complete a big photography or sculpture project when you’re constantly worried about how to pay for the next month’s rental expenses. Fortunately, there are a lot of institutions and organizations that provide education grants for seniors, fellowships, and art assistance to support senior artists in their work and free them up to complete their artwork instead of being puzzled about how to manage their finances.
If you’re a senior citizen in the United States and already involved in the world of nonprofits, grants, arts administration, and foundations then it may be confusing and challenging for you to know what type of art grants for senior citizens are available for you, who funds them, what are the purpose for which you can use the grants, where to search for art grants and how to avail them.
This guide will help you learn about different art grants for senior citizens and how to use them to their full potential.
Highlights of this Post
What Are Art Grants For Senior Artists?
Art grants for senior citizens are a sum of money that is awarded by corporate and personal philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions such as universities and museums to seniors to support their work.
For artists, the funding received through grants can help them rent a theater, attain a residency, and furnish supplies for a new painting or sculpture. Art grants for senior citizens can be for general operations or specific projects and the grant award may vary depending on your location and the organization which is providing the funding.
How To Apply For Art Grants For Senior Citizens?
There are government grants for low-income seniors that help them to make ends meet. The grant committees may want to see your artwork to make sure your art portfolio is in amazing shape. You can use a website builder that provides a variety of chic plates and also gives you a free trial option.
Besides, grant committees also need to see your artist statement therefore make sure your statement is as concise and clear as possible with up-to-date information about your art practice. Once your art statement in your portfolio is completed you can write senior artist grant applications to qualify for art grants for senior citizens.
Who Funds Art Grants For Senior Artists?
Older artists can receive art grants for senior citizens from multiple institutions. Museums, nonprofit organizations, family-run philanthropies, corporate philanthropies, and universities are some resources that senior artists can avail of to get funding for their work. Different institutions have different eligibility requirements for art grants for senior citizens’ applications. There are even government grants for disabled seniors in the USA and you just need to research and apply for the grant program that aligns with your needs.
For instance, a university or museum in the United States may require a senior applicant to have an aspect of communication in their creative work. Some nonprofits may require grant recipients to have a broader mission in their work to receive assistance from art grants for senior citizens.
A critical thing to note before partnering with an institution or applying for art grants for senior citizens is to know your art values.
What Are The Available Art Grants for Senior Citizens?
There are different art grants geared towards senior citizens coming from different art disciplines. The following is a list of art grants for senior citizens in the United States.
1. Elders Learning Through The Arts
The D.C. Commission On The Arts And Humanities sponsors the Elders Learning To The Arts Program through which it offers grants to organizations or individuals to support their innovative art programs. Senior citizens who are 60 years of age or above are eligible to apply for the program. Art activities include specializations in theater, visual arts, interdisciplinary art, literature, media, music, dance, or craft.
Senior artists or professionals who are residents of the District of Columbia for a minimum of one year can apply for the program. The Commission through this program offers a grant award ranging between $500 to $5000 to eligible organizations and individuals. To apply for this art grant for senior citizens visit https://dcarts.dc.gov/.
2. Awesome Foundation Grants
The Awesome Foundation is a popular international organization with 90 chapters in the United States and each chapter provides an art grant of $1000 every month to eligible candidates. The foundation funds every type of art project including initiatives in technology and community development. Every chapter once has art projects that contribute to their communities therefore those who are looking to apply for this art grant for senior citizens should apply to a local chapter near them.
There is no limitation based on the location therefore you can apply to multiple chapters as well. These are general art grants for senior citizens that are open to most artists and there are fewer restrictions on art discipline, geography, and subject matter. To apply for the grant visit https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en.
3. Creative Capital Grants
An art organization known as Creative Capital supports artists irrespective of their age across the United States with counseling, funding as well and career development services. Creative Capital Grants generally award artists with plans for long-term or large projects. A lot of projects that get funded from this resource have a timeline between three to five years. The grant offers assistance up to $50,000 including career development services. Senior artists irrespective of their art discipline can apply for the program by visiting https://creative-capital.org/.
4. Artist Outreach Project
Financial assistance is provided by the Artistic Outreach Project to performing, visual, and literary artists living in California, Orange County, and the San Diego region. Older residents 55 years old and above who wish to give back to the community by sharing their creative talents with vulnerable individuals can apply for the program.
Artists who provide support to underserved groups from organizations and nonprofits through their talent are eligible to receive assistance up to $12,000 a year which is paid out in monthly installments of $1000. The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation sponsors the Artistic Outreach Project and provides 20 stipends every year. To apply http://www.picernefoundation.org/.
5. FCA Grants to Artists
The Foundation for Contemporary Arts provides (FCA) grants to senior artists in different art disciplines such as performance art or theater, visual arts, poetry, music, and dance. Grants are awarded to support artists irrespective of their projects. Recipients of the program are chosen on the imagination and merit of their previous work and how the grant funding can support their career.
The purpose of these art grants for senior citizens is not to fund their particular art project but to provide financial assistance so that they can pursue their artistic goals including starting a new art project, completing an ongoing project, or developing new artistic ideas. Senior citizens applying for this program can receive a grant assistance of $40,000 upon becoming eligible. To apply visit https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/
6. The Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grant
The Gottlieb Foundation offers grants to 12 eligible artists every year. The grant amount is set to be $25,000 for artists who are coming from the painting and sculpture art discipline. The grant aims to support fully committed and serious artists. In other words, the grant focuses on the artistic goals of the applicants over their financial or personal responsibilities.
The Gottlieb Foundation awards art grants for senior citizens to serious and mature artists who have worked for a minimum of 20 years or more in the art discipline. A senior artist who has previous experience in the artistic world and is committed to their endeavors can apply for the foundation at https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/individual-support-grant-1 to receive an art grant.
7. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships
Guggenheim Fellowships are given to senior artists with exceptionally creative ability. The objective of the grant is to provide financial assistance to recipients so that they can get time to focus on work and have creative freedom. The recipients of the program can use the fund in any way they deem fit and can complete their artwork. Apart from this artistic grant the foundation also offers grants to scholars and scientists.
The foundation awards 175 fellowships to recipients across different fields. The grant awarded may vary and there is no limitation on the purpose or how you can use the grant. To apply visit https://www.gf.org/.
8. Project Launch Grant
A nonprofit organization in North Carolina known as CENTER is dedicated to providing immense opportunities and supporting gifted photographers. Senior citizens coming from artistic and journalistic photography disciplines are eligible to receive assistance up to $5000 through this grant. Eligible senior applicants should have nearly completed or fully finished a project to receive assistance through this program. The grant award is designed so that artists can benefit from the financial support and reduce their financial burden. Besides, the recipients can get their artwork published on Lenscratch or participate in an exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in North Carolina. To apply visit https://visitcenter.org/project-launch/.
9. Visual Art Grants
Visual art grants for senior citizens are provided by a national nonprofit organization known as Artadia which supports visual artists and provides merit-based grants. The nonprofit organization has different award programs in diverse cities across the United States of America. Eligible senior citizens can receive financial assistance of up to $20,000 through this program. The awards may range from $5000 to $20,000 and can also include ongoing career support.
The organization focuses on helping artists in diverse cities who show commitment and dedication to contemporary art. The organization has award programs in Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles Houston, the San Francisco Bay area, and New York. Senior artists who are living in any of the above-mentioned designated cities are eligible to receive award programs. To apply https://artadia.org/.
10. Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants
Senior artists who have been working for a long period in painting, printmaking, and sculpting, and need financial assistance, can apply for the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants. The foundation offers professional and personal assistance to artists.
While selecting a grant recipient the organization emphasizes artists who have been working for a prolonged time and those who demonstrate both financial need and artistic merit. The grant award is set to be $10,000 for eligible applicants. To apply https://pkf.org/apply/.
11. Alex J. Ettl Grant
NSS or the National Sculpture Society offers grants to well-established or unknown sculptures in times of need. The Alex J. Little gratis is designed for sculptors who design realist or figurative sculptures and gives them an award of $5000.
Senior sculptors who show dedication and commitment to the sculpting field and have outstanding ability can receive assistance through this art grant for senior citizens. To apply visit https://nationalsculpture.org/programs-awards/ettl-grant/#:~:text=The%20Alex%20J.,her%2Ftheir%20body%20of%20work.
12. MacArthur Fellows Program by MacArthur Foundation
Creative individuals including senior citizens are nominated by members of the Macarthur Foundation and receive assistance up to $500,000 in five-year installment plans. The program is designed for talented individuals and senior artists who show extraordinary dedication to creative pursuits. You need to have a significant record of artistic or personal accomplishment, the potential to perform additional creative work, and exceptional creativity to qualify for this art grant for senior citizens. To know more visit https://www.macfound.org/programs/fellows/
Conclusion
Art grants for senior citizens provide gravity or credibility to older artists and help them to keep up their creative work. Moreover, receiving grants from a well-respected or well-known institution provides weightage to one’s work. It is a matter of pride and accomplishment. Senior grant recipients may have to report back to the organization or institution providing the funding. You may have to still show how you have utilized the money and how it has helped you to improve your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Get An Art Grant For Senior Citizens?
To become eligible for art grants for senior citizens you need to research the different grants and apply for them. It would take research to find and apply for grants that appeal to you. Knowing about the upcoming grant deadlines will help you stay on top of potential opportunities and fundraise as a senior artist. Art grants for senior citizens are generally competitive therefore you need to apply for as many as possible to qualify.
What Can Senior Artists Use Grant Money For?
The purpose of using the grant money depends on the type of program you are applying for. Artists can use the money to receive general support or project-specific support. General support art grants help seniors receive funding to manage recurring expenses. Project-specific grants are designed to support artists to bring a specific vision to life.