Eligibility
- Projects must be collaborative i.e., present the creative contributions of more than one author or artist.
- Projects must be rooted in or strongly related to visual art. Performance or media-based projects are only eligible if visual art is a core component.
- Lead organizer must be a resident of Baltimore City or Baltimore County. The lead organizer is the primary contact during the application and granting process.
- The majority of collaborators must be residents of Baltimore City or Baltimore County.
- Lead organizer cannot be a student during time of application. Students may be listed as collaborators on projects.
- Applicants may be a lead organizer on only one application but may be listed as a collaborator on multiple applications.
- Resulting project activities must be accessible to Baltimore’s public and be presented in Baltimore City or Baltimore County.
- Applications from 501c3 non-profit organizations will NOT be considered.
- LLC’s are eligible if their primary purpose is not commercial and they are not a for-profit enterprise.
Submissions open:
Submissions close:
The online application will prompt you to provide the following:
Basic Contact Information
Name, address, and email of lead applicant and up to five additional collaborators.
Project Summary (100 words max.)
Brief summary of your proposed project.
Full Project Description (700 words max.)
Detailed description of your project that addresses: the form the project will take, where the project will take place (location/venue), what motivates the project, and any opportunities the project offers for local artist support. Describe your anticipated audience or participants. Describe the public component of your project and how your project will be made accessible to Baltimore audiences.
Biography (200 words max.)
Narrative biography for the lead organizer or group and key collaborators.
Project Timeline
Project timeline including: project phases and key dates during project implementation (April 2017 – March 2018).
Project Budget
Download the budget form at gritfund.org. Complete the budget form and upload it to your online application as a PDF.
Visual Support Material
Provide documentation of past work and/or sketches for your proposed project. If your group is newly formed and unable to provide examples of existing collaborations, choose support materials that will give the jury a sense of collaborators’ individual practices or past work. You will be prompted to upload the following support materials:
- Up to 5 digital images formatted as either JPG, GIF, or PNG. Images should not exceed 800 x 600 pixels, 180 dpi.
- Up to 2 URLs to videos. Submit links to videos that you have already uploaded to an online platform such as YouTube or Vimeo. You cannot submit the videos directly. If there is a password to view the video, include it in the Support Materials Description List. Up to 5 minutes total of video may be submitted for review.
- Up to 2 URLs to web-based projects. Please enter the specific URL to be viewed; the jury will not spend time browsing a website in its entirety.
Support Materials Description List
Provide an annotated List that corresponds with each image provided in your Visual Support Materials. Include: lead organizer / group’s name, title, year, medium, and brief description.
Promotional Image and Blurb
Image such as an artwork, documentation, or graphic identity and 2 sentences which The Contemporary can use to promote the public component of your project.
- Submissions open via Submittable
- Information Session #1 + Project Proposal Workshop
- Information Session #2 + Budget Workshop
- Information Session #3 + Grantee Panel
- Submissions close online at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
- Grant Recipients announced
- Funds distributed
- Grant Recipient reception
- All projects must be complete
The Contemporary’s review process will take approximately 8 weeks. To be considered for funding, completed applications must be submitted on time and meet all eligibility requirements. All proposals are evaluated based on criteria including:
- Artistic Strength
- overall vision
- innovative, creative, and conceptual strength of project
- Feasibility
- capacity to carry out and complete the project
- Public interface
- accessibility to the public
- commitment to serving a local constituency
Proposals will be reviewed by a five person panel comprised of local and national artists and arts professionals currently working in the field of visual arts. The Contemporary staff members do not serve on the jury.
Grant recipients are expected to maintain communication with The Contemporary. Awardees are asked to complete a short report after completion of the project in addition to checking in periodically with The Contemporary throughout the grant period.
For more information please attend an info session. If you are unable to attend any of the sessions or if you have any additional questions, please email us at gritfund@contemporary.org.
The Contemporary will lead three free information sessions and three free workshops. Each of the three info sessions will cover the same information and provide details on the Grit Fund application process, guidelines, eligibility, funding priorities, and more. Each of the three workshops focuses on a different topic outlined below. You are welcome to attend just the info session or workshop portion of each event, or both. While attending an info session and/or workshop is encouraged, attendance is not required to apply for funding. No RSVP necessary.
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Information Session #1 + Project Proposal Workshop
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Info session 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Project Proposal Workshop 7:00 – 8:30
Maryland Art Place
218 West Saratoga StreetThe Project Proposal Workshop provides strategies for writing a compelling and competitive project description.
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Information Session #2 + Budget Workshop
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Info session 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Budget Workshop 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Creative Alliance
3134 Eastern AvenueThe Budget Workshop offers a detailed look at the Grit Fund Budget Form and tips on preparing a realistic budget that is consistent with your project proposal.
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Information Session #3 + Grantee Panel
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Info Session 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Grantee Panel 7:00 – 8:30
Area 405
405 East Oliver StreetThe Grantee Panel features Grit Fund Grantees from previous rounds to speak about their experience and answer questions.