Grants of up to $150,000 support three years of programming by US-based curators at organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3.5 million. The minimum budget to apply for this category is $170,000. These organizations can include independent art spaces, contemporary art centers, nonprofit art institutions, kunsthalles, university galleries, and small contemporary art museums. “Programming” refers to all your activities—ranging from short-term, discrete projects like exhibitions, commissions, events, workshops, research for future projects, or hosting traveling shows, to ongoing organizational initiatives like artist-in-residence programs, institutional partnerships, strategic projects aimed at institutional growth and change, or a combination of the above. Projects must be open to the public between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2028.
We believe that the flexibility of smaller organizations is an asset, and for some, it may not be possible or desirable to outline detailed plans for the next three years. If you do not have a full three-year plan, please include at least one year of planned programming. Focus on the consistent ideas or goals that will guide your curatorial decisions during this period, and feel free to incorporate any confirmed or pending projects that illustrate this vision.
Teiger Foundation is dedicated to supporting curatorial learning and experimentation. Successful proposals will demonstrate not just the artistic merit of the proposed programming, but a clearly defined and compelling curatorial vision—whether driven by an individual or collaboratively among your organization’s team. We recognize that applicants in this category have a variety of orientations and responsibilities, from guiding the overall mission of their organization to organizing individual projects. In communicating the vision behind your proposal, please articulate your curatorial strategy and explain the proposed programming in the context of your organization’s past work and future goals.
Please consult our FAQ for more information on how applications are evaluated, and our past grantee list for examples of the range of initiatives we support.
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The five parts of the three years of programming application are described below.
1. Curator’s voice
The following questions should be answered by the curator(s) in their own words, in 350 words or less. It is important that all questions are addressed, as this section helps Teiger Foundation understand the thinking behind the proposed project. For proposals with curatorial teams, we ask that each curator provide their own individual response.
+ What led you to pursue curating, and what have you learned along the way? Please provide concrete examples.
+ Who do you do this work for? Has that changed or evolved?
+ Which curatorial projects have you witnessed or researched that influence your thinking, and/or which pressing dialogues do you wish to engage with?
Optional links
You may provide up to five links with captions up to 100 words per link to provide context for the above. 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.
2. Proposed three years of programming
Description
In 1250 words or less, describe your programming plans for the next three years and foreground the unified curatorial vision of your program. If you are applying for multiple projects or a series of programs by different curators, highlight each curator’s work and future projects. If you don’t have a full three-year plan, that’s okay. Make sure to include at least one year of planned future programming. You may also include past projects from the previous year if they help illustrate your future direction.
Clearly differentiate between past, confirmed, and pending projects. "Confirmed" artists or partners are those with formal agreements, while "pending" refers to artists or partners with whom you’ve had conversations and who have agreed to be part of the project but have not yet finalized their involvement.
Please address each of the following questions:
+ Why have you chosen to spotlight these particular artists or combinations of artists? Why have you chosen these presentation formats or other initiatives involving artists?
+ Who is this programming for? Who will you engage with over the next three years? Be specific about the communities, audiences, or stakeholders you aim to build long-term relationships with, such as (but not limited to) artistic and cultural workers, scholars, students, local communities, or advocacy groups.
+ How does your overall vision and approach fit within a broader spectrum of issues in the field? Are there other curatorial projects and/or small organizations you have witnessed or experienced that influence your and your colleagues' thinking, or pressing dialogues you want to engage?
+ Do your next three years include plans for internal collaborations or external partnerships? If internal, what are your collective working methods, and how do they support your and your colleagues’ curatorial growth, and/or the development of your organization? If external, which artistic or cultural organizations will you partner with, and how do these partnerships help to leverage resources, increase visibility, and bring together multiple curatorial voices for the presentation of an artist’s practice?
Images
Please provide up to ten images with captions up to 150 words per image to illustrate your proposed programming. 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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3. Three years of programming budget
Submit a programming budget including pending and confirmed income and expenses. Samples are available here. If a comprehensive budget for the next three years is not available, please provide us with a detailed budget for a single project or program within your proposal that can serve as a representative example of your typical program costs and how you distribute funds. (Note: A budget from a past project will not meet this requirement.)
+ You may request $75,000 or $150,000.
+ A three years of programming grant can cover no more than 15% of your organization's annual operating budget. As our smallest grant for this category is $75,000, your organization must have an annual operating budget exceeding $170,000 to be eligible.
+ 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 budget for a future fiscal year, that is optional. Keep in mind that a Teiger Foundation grant can cover no more than 15% of your organization's annual operating budget.
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5. Proof of 501(c)(3) status
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Questions you may have
Is there a minimum organizational budget size?
Yes. An organization's total annual operating expenses must be $170,000 per year or above, including applicants with fiscal sponsors.
How do I determine whether to apply for $75,000 or $150,000?
Applicants with annual budgets between $170,000 and $330,000 should apply for $75,000. Those with larger budgets may apply for $150,000. This is because we disburse our three-year grants in installments of either $25,000 or $50,000 per year, and can support up to 15% of an organization's total annual operating expenses (TAOE).
I work at an institution with a budget of less than $3.5 million. Is it a problem if I don't know exactly what the next three years will look like?
We understand that smaller organizations often need flexibility, and detailed plans for three years may not always be possible or desired. At a minimum, you should have one year of programming planned. If you're uncertain about years two and three, focus on your consistent curatorial vision and goals. You can share past projects if they provide insight into your future plans, and you should clearly differentiate between past and upcoming projects.
Many of the programs in my proposal are extensions or continuations of ongoing series at my organization. Do I need to develop entirely new programs to be considered?
No, you do not need to create entirely new programs to be considered for funding. We recognize that ongoing series and long-term programs are often essential to the mission and stability of an organization. However, in your proposal, it's important to clearly articulate how these programs continue to evolve or remain relevant, as well as how they contribute to the overall curatorial vision for the next three years.
My job title is not “Curator” (e.g., I am an Executive Director or Artistic Director), but I serve as a curator within my organization. Can I apply?
Yes. The job title of “Curator” is not a requirement for eligibility. We acknowledge that institutions are structured differently depending on scale and other factors, and that many directors of small organizations hold a dual administrative/curatorial role. If you are performing a curatorial role in relation to your proposed project or program, you are welcome to apply.
We are an artist-run collaborative exhibition space, where many of us curate shows of our own work and work by other artists. Are we eligible to apply?
Teiger Foundation is committed to supporting professional curatorial practice and does not directly fund artists or communities of artists. We acknowledge, however, that some practitioners seriously occupy dual roles as curators and artists. If this characterizes your organization's leadership or one or more of your collaborators, you are welcome to apply. Please keep in mind that applications are evaluated on the basis of curatorial, and not just artistic, merit of proposed projects and prior work.
Can we apply as an organization with programming that is developed by multiple curators?
Yes. If you are applying for multiple projects or a series of programs developed and administered by different curators, please be sure to foreground the unified curatorial vision of your program while also offering highlights from each curator’s work and future projects. You may indicate if some projects are more developed than others at the time of application.
I work at an institution with an annual operating budget of less than $3.5 million, but I’m planning a big show. Can I apply for the single project grant instead of the grant for three years of programming?
We offer smaller organizations three years of funding because this structure is often most supportive to their needs. However, sometimes smaller organizations do projects at a larger scale, especially through partnerships and collaborations. If this is the case, you may apply for a single project grant.
Do you provide support for regranting programs, curatorial fellowships, residencies, or training programs?
Not as a standalone program. However, if these are part of your organization’s broader activities, they may be included in a proposal as part of a three-year program that includes significant curatorial activity.
My organization can’t afford to complete W.A.G.E. compliance. What should I do?
If you are unable to meet W.A.G.E compliance, please submit your project budget with the highest standard of compensation that your organization can afford. We will look closely at your organization’s operating budget alongside your project budget.
How will funds be distributed?
Three years of programming grants will be disbursed annually in three equal installments.
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Here are the guidelines above as a PDF.