Burgeoning visual artists face an array of obstacles on the road to success, many of which have nothing to do with creativity or the quality of their work. Most artists work on the slimmest of margins, and it’s often the mundane things—attending their own show or shipping orders in a timely manner—that can mean the difference between idling and moving ahead.

The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) seeks to boost artists’ careers with targeted financial assistance in the form of two $5,000 Business Accelerator Grants per year. Applicants must detail exactly how the grant would help them undertake, improve, or expand a specific project. Examples of activities covered include mounting, casting, creating marketing materials, and transporting work to an exhibition. The fund does not support performance, literary or commercial work.

These grants—which do not require fiscal sponsorship—are designed to support the business side of an artist’s enterprise, and they complement CHF’s broader goal of providing artists with the tools, training, strategic assistance, and networking opportunities to help their art businesses thrive.

The Basics

• Two $5,000 grants (no fiscal sponsorship required)
• Applications accepted: September 1 through 30, 2015
• Submissions reviewed by a panel of visual artists
• Winners and finalists announced: November 2015Additional Benefits for Winners & Finalists
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• Free 12-month subscription to ArtWorkArchive.com, a cloud-based inventory- and collection-tracking system that includes a public page for showcasing an artist’s work
• The chance to interview an industry leader—e.g., artist, gallerist, publisher, etc.—for our podcast, gaining knowledge and a networking connection
• Exposure through the fund’s podcast, blog, and PR outreach effortsRequirements
• Applicants must be professional painters, artists working on paper, and/or sculptors who:
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• Employ traditional media (not including photography, film, or      video)
• Have had their work published and/or exhibited professionally
• Are pursuing specific opportunities or projects for which      financial support from CHF would make a substantive difference

HOW OUR GRANTS ARE UNIQUE

A Big Tent. We welcome all styles of painting, sculpture & works on paper.

Patronage, Not Parentage. We believe in supporting artists, not condescending to them, this is why we give grants directly to individual artists.

More Than Money. Beyond grants, we also provide artists with business skills, tools, and connections.

A Jury of Their Peers. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of visual artists from a wide range of backgrounds.

For submission guidelines and more information, please visit clarkhulingsfund.org/guidelines or contact grants@clarkhulingsfund.org