Art funding: a guide for international artists
Obtaining financial support for artistic projects and endeavors can be a daunting task, but fortunately, there are various international organizations that are committed to assisting artists like yourself. These organizations, ranging from government programs to private foundations, offer an extensive array of funding options for artists of all backgrounds and skill levels. We will highlight some of the most noteworthy organizations that offer funding for international artists, allowing you to elevate your career.
Funding Resources
International Cultural Mobility Funding Guide
In the guide for funding opportunities "Open to any nationality" for the Asia-Europe Foundation, you can find regular international mobility funding opportunities. Residency-related funding is indicated, and the last chapter of this guide includes a list of fully or mostly funded residencies worldwide.
The Visual Arts Scholarships of the Botín Foundation provide financial aid for training, research, or personal projects around artistic creation, which conclude with the organization of the Itineraries Exhibition and the publication of a catalog. The scholarships are available to people of any nationality, although candidates must be between 23 and 40 years old except for research scholarships.
Eligibility: visual artists, age limit
Set up by Russian-born ballet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev in 1975, the foundation supports individual dancers, organizations or companies, and performances, with a focus on the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Assists promising dancers living in the former Soviet Union to study ballet in the West for one year and promotes exchanges of dance techniques and styles between East and West.
Eligibility: ballet dancers, internationally.
Foundation for Arts Initiatives
The Foundation for Arts Initiatives is a private foundation, independent of any governments, agencies, NGOs, or their related agendas, which supports contemporary visual arts and culture. It provides support to new and alternative forms of institutions for operations, projects and research, and makes grants to individuals for research and travel. Individuals may submit an inquiry for a Fund for Arts Research grant of $7,500 for research and travel. You can apply at any time, but grant review can take up to 6 months.
Eligibility: Individual curators, critics, writers and others who are active in organizing projects in contemporary arts and culture, from any nationality.
The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges, in any of the 5 issues identified by the Open Society Foundations (Health, Education & Youth, Governance & Accountability, Media & Information, Right & Justice). Applicants should possess a deep understanding of their chosen subject and a track record of professional accomplishment. Past and current fellows have included journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners in a variety of fields.
Eligibility: individuals from any nationality
Mobility Fund by Prince Claus Fund
The Prince Claus Fund’s Mobility Fund supports the cross-cultural exchange of artists and cultural practitioners by covering travel costs, in particular for artists and cultural practitioners living in Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, non-EU Balkans and non-EU Eastern Europe who wish to travel within these areas. Priority is given to individuals up to 35 years old and/or within the first 10 years of their career.
Eligibility: individuals living in and travelling from countries listed in the DAC list
UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture
The International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC) was established in order to give greater prominence to culture in the development of individuals and societies and of strengthening international cultural cooperation, as well as to provide assistance for artistic creation and cultural activities. The Fund will provide financial support on the basis of a call for proposals opening once a year. Priority is given to young artists/creators (18-30 years old) and to projects benefitting youth.
Eligibility: international individual artists, cultural public bodies and cultural NGOs.
"The Awesome Foundation is a global community advancing the interest of awesome in the universe, $1000 at a time." Unusual, crazy projects can be submitted at any time. The micro-grants, $1000 or the local equivalent, are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects.
