Description

Art Works 

Art Works is a $3-million grant program for community-based organizations that is designed to support arts, culture and creativity — particularly those working with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) individuals and those in other underserved communities. Art Works, the inaugural program from the Forman Arts Initiative, will provide direct grants to artists and organizations that shine a light on Greater Philadelphia's rich diversity.

Overview

The Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation are partnering to support arts, culture and creativity in community-based organizations and artists working in partnership with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and other underserved, vulnerable communities in Greater Philadelphia.
  
Art Works' investments will fund organizations and individual artists whose work is equitable and community focused. Art Works places a premium on work that is designed to connect, build and transform spaces and narratives to break down barriers through open access and inclusion. Organizations and artists must demonstrate how they are using the arts as an engine to transform their communities and create safe spaces for active citizenship.
 
During the funding period, grantees will have the opportunity to come together to share their experiences and approaches to creative work with the Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation.  This community of practice will not only inform Art Works' grantmaking but also drive participants to realize their creative potential and connect with synergistic individuals and organizations. 

Guidelines

Grants for Organizations

Four community-based organizations will be selected annually to receive two-year, unrestricted grants.  Awards will range from $50,000-$150,000 annually and can be used to support any aspect of an organization's mission.  Organizations will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works' programmatic goals.   

Grantees will be offered an additional opportunity to host co-operative education students from Drexel University to enhance organizational effectiveness. Organizations that choose this option will work with one or more co-op students at a time during their grant cycle. The co-op program balances classroom theory with periods of practical, hands-on experience prior to graduation from Drexel University. Through the program, students alternate academic study with full-time employment, gaining practical experience in their field of study.  The co-ops, run for six months and are full-time positions in areas the employers most need extra staffing.

The Forman Arts Initiative will support up to 25 co-op positions for grantees over the duration of the grant program. The co-op hiring process and grant management will be handled by the Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships at Drexel University with the assistance of the Steinbright Career and Development Center.

Grants for Artists 

Four Philadelphia-based artists will be selected annually to receive two-year grants of $25,000 per year. Grants can be used freely by artists. Some artists may wish to use the grant to support the development of new work while others may use it to pay for living or studio expenses. Artists will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works' programmatic goals.   

Requirements

Basic Eligibility Requirements

For Organizations:

• Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania or Burlington or Camden counties in New Jersey. Organizations without 501(c)(3) public charity status must operate in Greater Philadelphia and have a fiscal sponsor, which can be located anywhere in the U.S.  
• Organizations with budgets between $250,000 and $5 million are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate their deep connection to and track record of working with BIPOC and other underserved and vulnerable communities as well as their commitment to incorporating community perspectives into their work.  
• Organizations must have a board-approved policy affirming that they do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For Artists:

• Individual artists must operate in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania or Burlington or Camden counties in New Jersey. 

 Grants for individual artists are considered taxable income.

 

Application Process 

Grantees will be selected by a committee comprised of community advisors and Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation staff, including Michael Forman (Co-Founder, Forman Arts Initiative), Pedro Ramos (President and CEO, Philadelphia Foundation), and Jennifer Rice (Co-Founder, Forman Arts Initiative).  These are the 2022 selection committee community advisors:

• Brittany Webb (Evelyn and Will Kaplan curator of Twentieth-Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• Ellen Somekawa (Founder, Folks Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School and former Executive Director of Asian Americans United)
• Erica F. Battle (John Alchin and Hal Marryatt Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art)
• Jaime Frankfurt (Art Advisor)
• Nasheli Ortiz González (Executive Director, Taller Puertorriqueño)
• Odili Donald Odita (Artist)
• Sharon Hayes (Artist)
• Thom Collins (Executive Director and President, The Barnes Foundation)

Grantees will be announced in the Summer of 2022.

For Organizations:

Nonprofits that meet basic eligibility requirements are asked to complete an application and upload the following supplemental documents.

• 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter 
• List of Board of Directors
• Financial statement for most recent fiscal year end
• Executive Summary of current strategic plan (if available)
• Board-approved Nondiscrimination and DEI policies
• Organizational Budget (if available)
• Current PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations Certificate (if applicable)
• Samples of relevant recent work
• Group image of the team

 For Artists:

Artists who meet basic eligibility requirements are asked to complete an application and upload the following supplemental documents.

• Bio/resume including list of exhibitions, performances, collections, and gallery representation (if any)
• Three letters of reference from professionals from the art, culture, creative and/or community field
• Samples of relevant recent work 
• High-resolution headshot

Video submission
Applicants may choose to answer questions and submit work in a video format

For Organizations

Video --maximum length of 15 minutes-- that provides:

• a quick introduction of the organization- vision, mission, and values
• a high-level overview of the organization's programs
• a description of how the organization's work challenges perspective and expands experience
• a description of existing or future programmatic partnerships
• a description of your connection/commitment to the community
• a description of the role the organization plays in the city
• briefly describe the organization's history of working with community as it relates to this grant
• describe the population(s) the organization reaches.  Include demographics, geography served, and number of individuals reached in the past year

• your intended impact on individuals reached by the organization's work and the outcome(s) anticipated as a result of this grant opportunity. What quantitative and/or qualitative data will the organization collect to measure impact?
• how or what would this investment mean for the organization and its work?
• description of the organization's interest in hosting and capacity to manage Drexel University co-ops. (Please include previous experience engaging volunteers and undergraduate interns)

NO PROFESSIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION
You can choose to answer these questions in the written application OR in your video submission

For Artists

Video --maximum length of 10 minutes-- that provides:

• a quick introduction
• a high-level overview of your practice
  • how does your work challenge perspectives and expand experiences?
• your commitment and/or connection to the community you create for, create with and/or represent
  • How is your work informed by this community's experiences?
• the intended impact on individuals reached by your work and the outcome(s) you anticipate as a result of this grant opportunity.
  • How do you intend to measure impact?
• description of your relationship to and connection with Philadelphia
• description what would an investment over two years mean for your practice and your work

NO PROFESSIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION

If selected as a winner, FAI and the Philadelphia Foundation may use materials submitted as part of the application process for communication and PR purposes.

Number of Awards

8