Supporting Baltimore Artists + Creators
Grit Fund was established in Baltimore in 2015 with generous funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, as a part of the Regional Regranting Program—which “aims to support vibrant, under-the-radar artistic activity by partnering with leading cultural institutions in communities across the country.” Since 2015, Baltimore’s artists have found support for their projects through Grit Fund. Ranging from out-of-school time programs that connect our youth to STEAM opportunities, and art-meets-journalism projects that communicate hidden stories of Black Baltimore, to community festivals that recapture and remind us of the strength of our city’s diversity, Grit Fund has been a dynamic, accessible, and much needed funding source in Baltimore City. Ever responsive to the community it serves, Grit Fund pivoted in 2020 to offering need-based support to artists.
Each year, Grit Fund awards money to collaborative, artist-led projects—up to $10,000. We accept proposals that use the visual arts to create collaborative public-facing projects. Artists and cultural organizers create vital connections within our communities. But it can be difficult to find funding to create, collaborate, and make an impact. Grit Fund makes arts funding accessible for everyone. We focus on projects that bring artists and community members together to explore a sense of place and shared space.
2024 Details:
- Grit Fund will disperse $60,000 in project grants in 2024
- Applications open January 15 – April 15, 2024
- Award notification will occur in June 2024
Eligibility + Projects
Grit Fund supports collaborative projects led by visual and performing artists, cultural organizers, collectives, collaboratives, and/or artist-run spaces. Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be independent (or unincorporated). In other words, you can’t be registered as a business or organization.
- Only Baltimore City and Baltimore County based artists and organizers are eligible.
- Your project must take place in Baltimore City or County and be accessible to the general public.
We support all kinds of visual-arts-based projects at any stage of development. Innovative ideas are welcome. These are the types of projects we’ve supported in the past:
- Exhibitions
- Publications
- Public events
- Public art installations
- Film screenings
- Festivals
- Founding a new arts venue or collective
- The ongoing work of an existing arts venue or collective