This grant category supports projects in the implementation phase, which can include auxiliaries such as live events and publications in a range of media. (For projects at an earlier stage, consider applying for a research and development grant.) Projects can be led by one curator at one institution or can be collaborative efforts linking different curators and organizations. If the latter, please identify one partner as the lead applicant.
Teiger Foundation is dedicated to supporting curatorial learning and experimentation. Successful proposals will demonstrate not just the merit of the artists involved, but a clearly defined and compelling curatorial vision. What are your guiding principles for working with artists and partners, responding to communities and contexts, and contending with urgent contemporary curatorial issues as you see them?
Please consult our FAQ for more information on how applications are evaluated, and our 2023 grantee list for examples of the range of initiatives we support.
*
Here are the five parts of the single project application, followed by some questions and answers about this category.
1. Proposed project
Description
In 750 words or less, describe your project.
+ For single-artist projects: Why have you chosen to spotlight this particular artist? What is your new viewpoint on their work(s)? How will you work with this artist in ways that extend their learning and your own?
+ For group projects or thematic exhibitions: How and why did you select these particular artists or these particular works? What is the organizing principle behind the presentation of the works you’ve selected? Are you pursuing a format new to you or to the artists?
+ Do you plan to foster connections between your organization, the artist(s), their work, and your identified community or communities?
+ How does your overall vision and approach fit within a broader spectrum of issues in the field? Are there other curatorial projects you have witnessed or researched that influence your thinking, or pressing dialogues that you want to engage?
+ If your project is co-organized with partners, or structured around collaborations, why have you chosen to work together? What are your collective working methods, and how do they support your and your colleagues’ curatorial growth, and/or the development of your organizations(s)?
Summary
Summarize the description above in 100 words or less.
Images
Please provide ten images with captions up to 100 words per image to illustrate your proposed project. 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. Ensure that the images are in .jpg format, at least 72 dpi, a minimum of 2000 x 2000 pixels in size, and do not exceed 5 MB each.
*
2. Past project
Description
In 500 words or less, describe a past curatorial project to provide context for your proposed project and give us a sense of your curatorial values.
+ What did you learn from this past project that will inform the one you are proposing? What are you carrying forward, revising, or leaving behind?
+ If your involvement in the past project was as a collaborator or assistant, what were your specific contributions? What did you learn from the lead curator?
+ If this is a collaborative proposal, tell us about a previous collaboration with this or another partner, and how it turned out.
Optional links
You may provide up to five links with captions up to 100 words per link to help us understand your past project. 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.
*
3. Project budget
Submit a project budget including pending and confirmed income and expenses. Samples of single project budgets are available here. Please note:
+ You may request $75,000 or $150,000.
+ A single project grant can cover no more than 50% of a project’s budgeted expenses.
+ Up to 30% of the grant can be used for institutional overhead and/or indirect 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.
*
4. Organization budget
Submit your organization’s operating budgets for the past, current, and future fiscal years. If your project involves a partnership, submit the operating budgets for the lead partner's organization only.
*
5. Proof of 501(c)(3) status
If you are applying as a partnership, please submit proof of 501(c)(3) status for the lead partner’s organization only.
Questions you may have
I work at an institution with a budget of less than $3.5 million, but I’m planning a big show. Can I apply for the single project grant?
Yes. We recognize that smaller organizations may undertake larger-scale projects, especially when collaborating or forming partnerships. International partners are welcome.
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. In the project description, please tell us about touring venues that are already confirmed or likely to be confirmed. You may include your own organization’s administrative costs related to the coordination of the tour as part of your project budget.
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. International partners are welcome; the US partner must serve as lead applicant.
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.
How does the single project grant differ from the research and development grant?
The research and development grant is intended for the early stages of a curatorial project. It allows grantees to explore their initial concepts, conduct research, and develop a robust curatorial vision. This grant can support a range of needs, including travel funding or other financial support for various contributors to your project, such as artists, programmatic partners, catalogue contributors, etc.
In contrast, the single project grant aids curators in the actual manifestation of these plans in a tangible, public-facing exhibition or program. While the research and development grant provides the resources to lay a strong foundation for a project, the single project grant is designed to bring the curator’s vision to life for a public audience. If you anticipate that your project will manifest publicly after the grant period, you should consider applying for a research and development grant.
*