About Fund for the Arts

Fund for the Arts is a public art program of the New England Foundation for the Arts. Fund for the Arts supports projects where artists and non-profit community organizations are paired to create public artworks that engage audiences and encourage participation in the arts. Fund for the Arts seeks to advance and provide visibility for the arts in Greater Boston by placing artists and creative endeavors at the heart of community and civic life.

Launched in 1981 under the leadership of Boston attorney Phil David Fine, Fund for the Arts began with an extensive publicity and fundraising campaign out of WBZ-TV (now CBS4). The campaign drew support from local businesses, arts organizations, and individuals and resulted in the formation of an endowment fund, which today has assets of nearly $3 million. In 1992, Fund for the Arts became a permanent fund of the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Eligibility

Fund for the Arts invites proposals from nonprofit organizations in the Greater Boston area. Fund for the Arts will consider applications from communities within Rt. 495. Organizations outside this geography that wish to apply should contact program staff before beginning an application. Organizations outside of Massachusetts will not be considered.

Artist note: If a project artist has already been selected, this artist must reside in the geography described above. Grants will not be awarded to artists directly. If an artist would like to propose a public art project to Fund for the Arts they must do so with a nonprofit applicant partner.

Grant Guidelines for Permanent Work

Fund for the Arts supports comprehensive planning and development that will lead to successful artist-led community partnerships and implementation projects. Activities that planning and development grants support may include but are not limited to: artist selection, artist fees, community engagement activities, site-specific planning, and acquisition of permits and approvals. Awards for the planning and development phase of permanent public art projects generally range from $5,000 to $20,000.

Fund for the Arts also awards implementation funding, provided that a successful planning and development process has been completed and is reflected in the narrative project description. Prior to seeking implementation funds, a project should complete the following: artist selection, conceptual design development, community engagement activities, site-specific planning, acquisition of permits and approvals, and a draft maintenance plan agreement. Implementation grants awards are generally up to $30,000.

*NEW* Grant Guidelines for Temporary Work

New this year, Fund for the Arts will offer support for the planning and execution of temporary public art projects.  Activities that a grant for temporary work will support may include but are not limited to: artist selection, artist fees, community engagement activities, acquisition of permits and approvals, project documentation, materials, fabrication and removal expenses.  Grants for temporary public art projects are generally up to $5,000.

Fund for the Arts Advisors

Newell Flather
Founder, Grants Management Associates, Boston
President, the Theodore Edison Parker Foundation
Chairperson, Fellows Committee, Massachusetts Historical Society

Ann Gund
President, Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies
Board Chairman, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
Trustee, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Geoffrey Hargadon
Senior Vice President – Investments, UBS Financial Services, Boston
Advisory Committee, MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge
Board Director, Friends of Harvard Soccer

Theodore Landsmark
President, Boston Architectural College
President, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Trustee, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Tyra Sidberry
Director, Diversity Initiative, Third Sector New England
Board Director, UrbanArts Institute, Boston
Board Director, New England Blacks in Philanthropy