BIPOC Artist Fund Program

Your Title Goes Here

Program Overview 


The Creative West Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Artist Fund provides resources to and for BIPOC artists living in the 16 states and jurisdictions in the Creative West
region. The program emphasizes self-determination for BIPOC artists and their communities.

The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Artist Fund opens for individuals to apply on March 11, 2024 at 9 a.m. (MT) and closes March 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (MT). Funds will be distributed from a pool of $180,000. Our intention is to distribute at least one award to each of the 16 states and jurisdictions in the Creative West region. While all budget requests will be reviewed, we anticipate distributing $6,000 – $12,000 per awardee.

Creative West will invest in the well-being and safety of BIPOC artists, cultural practitioners, and collaboratives by providing no-strings-attached funding and support. The BIPOC Artist Fund support is available for, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Salary/Income support
  • Technology/software
  • Materials or other resources
  • Holistic health

Please toggle through the dropdowns below to find out more information about the BIPOC Artist Fund program.

Application Opened: Monday, March 11, 2024 (9 a.m. MT)

Application Closed: Sunday, March 31, 2024 (11:59 p.m. MT)

Missed our BIPOC Artist Fund applicant information session? Check out the session recording, and view the slide deck.

Eligibility

Applications are open to: 

  • BIPOC artists, cultural practitioners, and collaboratives that are based in Creative West’s region, regardless of immigration status; 
  • Those who work with and for community;
  • Those who are at least 18 years of age; and,
  • Those who are in good standing with Creative West, with no overdue or delinquent reports or documentation.
  • In addition to meeting the criteria above, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, people with disabilities, low-income and individuals residing in rural, remote or frontier areas are highly encouraged to apply.

Can I apply if I’m moving to one of the eligible states or jurisdictions?

    Scoring Methods

    In the spirit of liberatory grantmaking and trust-based philanthropy, this application focuses more on the artist than the artwork. We welcome applicants to respond to the prompts to the best of their ability, sharing their most authentic self — as a person and not just an artist.

    Applicants are not constrained to a certain medium; alternative forms of response are welcome. 

    Reviewers will use a 1-10 scale to assist in the selection process with the following questions guiding application review:

    • Does the candidate have a strong sense of how identity relates to their creative practice? 
    • Has the candidate articulated their specific needs? 
    • Can the candidate strongly express their practice and how they plan to further develop it?
    • Does the candidate have a strong and thoughtful connection to community?

      Applicants should expect to hear by Monday, May 6, 2024.

    Optional Supplemental Materials

    Applicants are not required to provide supplemental information. However, as this is a highly competitive program, applicants are encouraged to strongly consider if the inclusion of supplemental materials might affect their applications.

    Timeline

    Application Open

    March 11

    Application Information Session

    March 21, 5:00 p.m. MT – Register HERE

    Applications Closed

    March 31, 11:59 p.m. MT

    Panelist Orientation Session

    April 8

    Application Reviewer Period Open

    April 8

    Application Reviewer Period Closed

    April 28

    Decision Period

    April 29 – April 30

    Awardees Announcement

    May 15

    Program Dates

    See Awardee Support Sessions

    Awardee Support Sessions

    All artist awardees will participate in group coaching sessions to provide support to artists in their creative process, to strengthen their networks and to provide a safe space for collective care. Coaching sessions will be led by Creative West staff and utilize Artist Thrive resources.
    Session dates + times are below.

    Monthly Sessions: Mondays*, 6:00pm-8:00 p.m. Mountain Time (MT)

    • SESSION #1 – June 3, 2024
    • SESSION #2 – July 1, 2024
    • SESSION #3 – August 5, 2024
    • SESSION #4 – September 9, 2024

    *Due to the wide range of time zones, monthly session start times for residents of the U.S. Jurisdictions in the Pacific region (ChST) will translate into the morning of the next calendar day. Please see below for clarification.

    Samoa Standard Time

    (SST)

    Hawaii Time 

    (HST)

    Alaska Daylight Time

    (AKDT)

    Pacific Time 

     

    (PDT)

    Mountain

    Daylight

    Time

    (MDT)

    Central Time

     

    (CDT)

    Eastern Time

    (EDT)

    Guam Time

     

    (ChST)

    Northern Mariana Islands

    (ChST)

    -5 hours

    -4 hours

    -2 hours

    -1 hour

    +0 hours

    +1 hour

    +2 hours

    +16 hours

    +16 hours

    1:00pm

    2:00pm

    4:00pm

    5:00pm

    6:00pm

    7:00pm

    8:00pm

    10:00am

    10:00am

    Monday

    *Tuesday

    For technical assistance, please contact grants@wearecreativewest.org.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where will this take place? Is it in-person?

    • This program is entirely online.

    Will there be any out-of-pocket costs associated with participating in the program?

    • Creative West will fully fund this program. Selected awardees do not pay to participate.

    Can I reapply if I’m not selected?

    • Yes. Future opportunities will be publicized on this website.

    Can I apply on behalf of a group of artists or a collective?

    • Yes, but the application is only open to individuals and only the individual applying will be granted the award and expected to attend the support sessions. 

    Do you have technical support available?

    • Yes. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Please reach out to grants@wearecreativewest.org 

    Can you offer a deadline extension for extenuating circumstances?

    • No. 

    For a complete list of Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.

      Our deepest thanks to the BIPOC Artist Fund Design Team and ELC Members.