Art Overview / Curators on the Cusp • Practice on the Cusp / Curatorial Advancement Grants • Recent Grants • Field Connections • Resources
The creation of this grant program was based on feedback from our field research. These opportunities offer a degree of flexibility and open possibilities within the field of contemporary art curation within the United States.
Submissions for Curatorial Advancement Grants have two distinct tracks that relate either to growing peer networks or envisioning new ways of working through Spark-Catalyst ideas. These grants do not relate to exhibition research or planning. For exhibition related requests, please refer to the Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award and Research grants.
Submissions for Curatorial Advancement Grants have two distinct tracks that relate either to growing peer networks or envisioning new ways of working through Spark-Catalyst ideas. These grants do not relate to exhibition research or planning. For exhibition related requests, please refer to the Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award and Research grants.
Unified application - you select the focus of the request
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Peer Network requests support peer network opportunities that advance curatorial knowledge and strengthen U.S. curatorial practices. We encourage curators to think beyond conferences and consider connections that will best advance their practice. These networks can be in-person or online, meet once or multiple times, require travel or be in the curator’s community.
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Spark-Catalyst requests are designed to propel bold curatorial thinking by supporting experimental curatorial practices, new methodologies, under-explored or untested initiatives, overlooked opportunities that lack sufficient resources, or emerging trends that question prevailing curatorial frameworks and broaden access to contemporary art discourse Requests can be for specific projects or new ways of doing business. They can also be public facing or internal to an institution.
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Grant terms will be up to one year with funding ranging from $500-$10,000 and no match is required. The grant can be used to leverage other grant opportunities. Projects, initiatives or opportunities anticipated to exceed $10,000 may want to consider as a phased request that allows an institution or partner to seek additional funds. Additionally, non-profit organizations can budget up to 25% and universities can budget up to 10% of the grant request to be designated for staff time and overhead.
Requests should be able to report an outcome within one year of starting the project. This outcome is set by the applicant and does not need to conclude the project, initiative or opportunity. Projects with an International scope must include a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.)
The Foundation's focus is contemporary art. While curatorial position titles may be broader, applicants must be U.S.-based curators and have contemporary art at the core of their proposals.
Exhibitions and exhibition research proposals are not eligible - see the Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award and Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Research Grants for our exhibition funding opportunities.
Requests should be able to report an outcome within one year of starting the project. This outcome is set by the applicant and does not need to conclude the project, initiative or opportunity. Projects with an International scope must include a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.)
The Foundation's focus is contemporary art. While curatorial position titles may be broader, applicants must be U.S.-based curators and have contemporary art at the core of their proposals.
Exhibitions and exhibition research proposals are not eligible - see the Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award and Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Research Grants for our exhibition funding opportunities.
TIMELINE (updated Feb 27, 2026)
REVIEW CRITERIA
Peer Network focused requests
- LOI Available: March 2, 2026 (follow button below to our grant portal)
- LOI Deadline: April 15, 2026 (11:45pm ET)
- LOI Response: by May 1, 2026
- Full Proposal Deadline (must be invited from LOI Process): June 2, 2026 (by 11:45pm ET)
- Award Notification: by July 15, 2026
- All projects must start between August 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027
REVIEW CRITERIA
Peer Network focused requests
- Does the request advance field connections and relationship building?
- Does the request promote the sharing of new ideas / field communications?
- Does the request support a project, initiative or opportunity not previously explored in the local curatorial space, support an emerging trend that is under-resourced, or offer a creative adaptation of a current practice?
- Does the request hold the potential for further use or adaptation or spur collaboration or field building?
- Does the request focus on the advancement of curatorial knowledge?
- Does the request amount align with the proposal?
Frequently Asked Questions
As we receive inquiries regarding these opportunities that would help others to hear, we will continue to add to this section. If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please email [email protected].
Can we apply for both the Peer Network focused grant and the Spark-Catalyst focused grant?
No. You can only have one active grant at a time. However, you can apply if you have a current grant that will conclude before a new grant begins.
I've tried to log into the online portal but it says my organization already has an account, what do I do?
Contact Heather at [email protected] to be added as a contact on your organization's existing account.
I'm an independent curator. Can I apply if I don't have a fiscal agent?
Yes. We will help secure a fiscal agent if you are awarded the grant.
Do I need to be a non-profit to apply?
Funding must go through a US-based 501c3 entity. If an independent curator is awarded a grant, the Foundation will work with the individual to secure fiscal sponsorship.
What projects can apply?
Here are a few examples of potential requests - note these are only examples and requests are not limited to these ideas:
If my request is denied, can I apply in the next cycle?
Yes. However, you should not re-apply with the same request. We encourage applicants to submit new ideas each cycle.
Will requests be awarded partial funding?
Possibly. The full proposal provides an opportunity to share if there is a partial funding amount that would allow the project to still fulfill it's goals but also allow the Foundation to fund more projects. This question does not guarantee funding nor does it imply that the request will be partially funded.
Can staff and overhead costs be included?
Yes. Non-profit organizations can budget up to 25% and universities can budget up to 10% of the grant request to be designated for staff time and overhead.
I am a U.S. based curator, but my request will take place outside the U.S. Is that ok?
Yes. Curators can apply for projects/experiences that will take place outside the U.S. as long as the lead curator is based in the U.S., the organization or fiscal agent is based in the U.S. and there is a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.)
Can we apply for both the Peer Network focused grant and the Spark-Catalyst focused grant?
No. You can only have one active grant at a time. However, you can apply if you have a current grant that will conclude before a new grant begins.
I've tried to log into the online portal but it says my organization already has an account, what do I do?
Contact Heather at [email protected] to be added as a contact on your organization's existing account.
I'm an independent curator. Can I apply if I don't have a fiscal agent?
Yes. We will help secure a fiscal agent if you are awarded the grant.
Do I need to be a non-profit to apply?
Funding must go through a US-based 501c3 entity. If an independent curator is awarded a grant, the Foundation will work with the individual to secure fiscal sponsorship.
What projects can apply?
Here are a few examples of potential requests - note these are only examples and requests are not limited to these ideas:
- Convening curators from a 200-mile radius of the institution to discuss exhibition ideas that would have potential to travel regionally.
- Collaborating with a stakeholder advisory group on idea generation or skill building with a specific focus/goal in mind.
- Inviting contemporary art curators from a major city to visit your institution and meet with local artists (or vice versa).
- Creating an multi-department working group within your institution to discuss potential exhibitions.
- Visiting an exhibition and meeting with the curatorial team to align a complementary/future exhibition that will further discourse around the topic.
If my request is denied, can I apply in the next cycle?
Yes. However, you should not re-apply with the same request. We encourage applicants to submit new ideas each cycle.
Will requests be awarded partial funding?
Possibly. The full proposal provides an opportunity to share if there is a partial funding amount that would allow the project to still fulfill it's goals but also allow the Foundation to fund more projects. This question does not guarantee funding nor does it imply that the request will be partially funded.
Can staff and overhead costs be included?
Yes. Non-profit organizations can budget up to 25% and universities can budget up to 10% of the grant request to be designated for staff time and overhead.
I am a U.S. based curator, but my request will take place outside the U.S. Is that ok?
Yes. Curators can apply for projects/experiences that will take place outside the U.S. as long as the lead curator is based in the U.S., the organization or fiscal agent is based in the U.S. and there is a strategy for disseminating learnings within the U.S. (this could mean publishing an article, presenting at a conference, posting learnings on a website, recording a podcast, etc.)