Grants of up to $75,000 support US-based curators or artistic directors presenting a contemporary visual art exhibition or project that originated elsewhere within the distinct context of their own institution and community. Teiger Foundation aims not only to support new ideas but also to cultivate resource-sharing and collective learning within the field of contemporary visual art. We recognize that hosting exhibitions or projects on tour allows institutions to expand their programming in economical and sustainable ways. It also enables institutions to build on existing knowledge in ways that resonate with diverse local contexts.
This grant category is intended to provide funding for host curators to present pre-existing exhibitions or projects. Originating curators seeking support for exhibitions or projects that they intend to tour, or for other forms of inter-institutional collaboration, should apply for a single project grant. Projects must open to the public between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2027.
Applications for this grant are not reviewed by a jury but selected by Teiger Foundation staff. Please consult our FAQ for information on how applications are evaluated, and our past grantee list for examples of the range of initiatives we support. (Note: In 2023, the category called "hosting" was known as “touring.”)
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The five parts of the hosting application are described below.
1. Proposed project
Description
In 750 words or less, describe the exhibition or project you would like to host and how you will integrate it into your organization and community. Please make sure to address each of the following questions.
+ Why do you want to bring this project to your venue and area? How will you adapt the original exhibition or project to fit a new context (for instance, through adding or removing artworks, supporting participating artist(s) to make new work, or creating public programs or partnerships)?
+ How do you plan to collaborate with the exhibition’s or project’s originating curator(s) and institutions(s)?
+ Who is this project for? Who do you intend to connect with through this project? Identify the specific communities, audiences, or stakeholders this project aims to engage, such as (but not limited to) artistic and cultural workers, scholars, academics, students, local communities, artists, or activist and advocacy communities. How will the project engage these groups, and what steps will you take to facilitate that connection?
Images
Please provide up to ten images with captions up to 150 words per image to illustrate the existing exhibition or project and how your organization will integrate it into your venue and community. If the images feature artworks, please include the artist's name, the title of the work, the materials used, and the date of creation. Additional context on the images and why you included them is encouraged. Images should be in .jpg format, at least 72 dpi DPI, and do not exceed 5 MB each.
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2. Past project
Description
In 500 words or less, describe a past exhibition or project that you hosted or contributed to hosting.
+ What did you learn from hosting this past exhibition or project that will inform the one you are proposing? What are you carrying forward, revising, or leaving behind?
+ What was your role in the past project? If your involvement was as a collaborator or assistant, what were your specific contributions?
Optional Links
You may provide up to five links with 100-word captions to help us understand how you have integrated an exhibition or project that originated elsewhere into your venue’s distinct context and community. These links can direct us to dedicated project websites or related digital content; visual materials such as installation shots, floorplans, digital walkthroughs, or videos; text documentation including publications, brochures, or reviews; or personal or organizational websites if they are relevant. Use the caption fields to identify the links and why you included them. If any link requires a password for access, please remember to include it.
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3. Project budget
Submit a project budget including pending and confirmed income and expenses. Samples of hosting budgets are available here.
+ You may request $50,000 or $75,000.
+ Eligible expenses include touring fees, costs of mounting the exhibition, and expenses related to supplementary programs, artworks, or other means to adapt the exhibition to its new context.
+ Up to 30% of the grant can be used for indirect costs (sometimes known as overhead or administrative costs).
+ Robust fees for artists, whether producing new work or contributing existing work, are highly recommended. Please refer to W.A.G.E. standards for guidance. We also encourage robust compensation for all outside consultants, partners, and advisors, as well as other collaborators such as writers, designers, photographers, web developers, etc.
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4. Organization budget
Submit your organization's operating budgets for the past and current fiscal years. If you have a final future fiscal year, that is optional.
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5. Proof of 501(c)(3) status
Please submit proof of 501(c)(3) status for the hosting organization only.
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Questions you may have
I received an invitation from another organization to partner on a project. Should I apply for a single project grant or a hosting grant?
If your organizations are collaborating equally in the planning and organization of the project, you should apply together for a single project grant, with one organization serving as the lead applicant. This implies shared responsibility for the project's development and implementation.
If you've been invited to join a project that has already been organized and developed by another institution, please apply for a hosting grant. These grants support your work to adapt and present the project within the context of your own institution and community.
I need support to mount my exhibition for the first time, and I am also already organizing a tour. Should I apply for a single project grant or a hosting grant?
You should apply for a single project grant.
If there are multiple potential hosting venues for a project that originated elsewhere, can they apply for funds together?
No. Each venue should submit a separate application for a hosting grant. We will review the applications from each partner and assess how each venue’s curator(s) will situate the project in their specific context.
I am co-originating a show with one or more organizations. We want the show to tour to all collaborating venues. Should each venue apply separately for a hosting grant?
No. For exhibitions co-organized by multiple institutions that will tour to all collaborating venues, you should apply together for a single project grant, with one organization serving as the lead applicant. This joint application should be submitted during the early planning stages of your exhibition. The budget included in your application should clearly specify the proposed funding allocation for each institution.
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Here are the guidelines above as a PDF.