Fund for the Arts is an endowed fund at NEFA that supports cultural organizations in greater Boston to effectively partner with artists to create new public art.

Fund for the Arts is not currently accepting applications.

About NEFA’s Public Art Programs

Fund for the Arts is one of NEFA’s grant programs supporting artists in the field of public art. 

For more information about other elements of NEFA’s Public Art programs: 

VISIT THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM PAGE 

Program History

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 program of the New England Foundation for the Arts.

As a program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, Fund for the Arts has historically funded organizations in the greater Boston area to commission artists to plan and implement site-specific, temporary and permanent public art.

Learn about past Fund for the Arts grants.

Fund for the Arts 2018

NEFA’s priority for this round of Fund for the Arts grantmaking is to support organizations that are currently strengthening the public art sector through diverse approaches. 

A grant from Fund for the Arts will enable organizations to: 

  • Invest in artists to develop new public art in the greater Boston area 
  • Make lasting impacts in their communities 
  • Strengthen the public art sector in diverse ways 

By investing in this cohort of organizations, NEFA aims to learn in partnership with these organizations about how NEFA may be able to better support more equitable and sustainable public art practices in the Boston area.

Learn about the 2018 Fund for the Arts grants.