What Types of Projects will be funded?

The Idea Fund is committed to new, risk-taking forms that help to define new practices in contemporary art. A panel of professionals will select up to ten (10) projects submitted by individual artists, curators, performers, collectives or collaboratives that must be completed by December 31, 2010.

Who Can Apply?

The Idea Fund will support individual artists, curators, collectives, collaboratives, or partnerships. If applying as a group, the artistic group can be long-standing or created specifically for this project; however, at least one member of the group must be living and working in Texas. Please identify one participant to serve as the lead contact for the project. Please note that past recipients of an Idea Fund award may not re-apply for a grant as a lead artist.

Review Process & Selection Criteria

All proposals are evaluated based on criteria including:

• The artistic and creative strength of the proposed project
• The overall vision of the applicant(s)
• The capacity of the applicant(s) to realize the project
• The accessibility of the resulting project to the public
• The project’s demonstration of community support and commitment to serving a local constituency

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of jurors composed of artists and arts professionals.

Funding Priorities

Please keep in mind that The Idea Fund favors projects that exemplify the unconventional, interventionist, conceptual, entrepreneurial, participatory, or guerrilla artistic practices that occur outside of the traditional frameworks of support. Works that are eligible for conventional sources of funding are highly unlikely to be awarded.

What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?

• The work of an individual artist, collective or temporary association of artists
• A project of a temporary or permanent artist run space
• Curatorial projects that focus on unconventional artistic practice
• An exhibition that has a strong public component (i.e., projects which involve the public via process, production, or presentation)
• Publications of creative writing, including printed matter, and online publications
• A public event, performance, or intervention
• A screening, lecture or workshop series
• A temporary public art project
• Site specific installations
• Web-based projects
• Audio, video and photo projects
• Interdisciplinary, emerging fields and new media projects

What kinds of projects WILL NOT be funded?

• Projects proposed by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• Projects in which the lead artist lives outside of Texas
• Projects in which all artists reside outside of Texas
• Projects that do not have a public component (i.e., projects which do not involve the public via process, production, or presentation)
• Projects that are not accessible and presented to the public
• Projects that do not exemplify innovative practices in contemporary art

For more information, check out some of the previously funded The Idea Fund projects. If you STILL have questions about whether your proposal is eligible for The Idea Fund, please call Tracey Morton, TIF Administrator, at 713.223.8346 or email tracey@diverseworks.org.

The Idea Fund Informational Session at HAA from Aurora Picture Show on Vimeo.

The Idea Fund FAQ from Aurora Picture Show on Vimeo.

 

2010 RECIPIENTS

2009 RECIPIENTS

 

Idea Fund deadlines

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