Artist Displacement Prevention Grant

Artist Displacement Prevention Grant

Project Overview

Vital Arts proudly presents the Artist Displacement Prevention Grant (ADPG), a critical initiative addressing artist displacement in the Bay Area. With a total funding of $30,000, this project will provide 12 need-based small grants of $2,500 each. The grants will be distributed twice a year, with six grants awarded in March 2024 and an additional six in August 2024. This pilot program prioritizes historically oppressed artists to alleviate our most pressing issue: housing.

The Artist Displacement Prevention Grant offers emergency relief to artists facing eviction, rent hikes, or homelessness. Collaborating with local artists and organizations, we ensure fair distribution. Vital Arts is committed to providing technical assistance to interested applicants to support navigating housing challenges. We know that these emergency funds will help stabilize struggling artists and also aid us in prioritizing those most vulnerable in our community.

Our organization aims to support artists facing displacement in the Bay Area. We believe that by providing immediate support to stabilize their housing, we can create stronger connections within the arts community and raise awareness about the housing crisis that has historically affected this underserved workforce. Our program, Vital Arts, currently offers six grants of $2500 twice a year and is available only to residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties. While we plan to expand this program in the future, we welcome feedback and advice from our community. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at sharmi@vitalarts.org.

Please note: Vital Arts is running a pilot program to offer grant awards to artists in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties. While we hope to expand the program in the future, we can only provide awards to twelve grantees in 2024 due to limited capacity. However, if the program is successful, we plan to increase the amount, the regions, and the number of artists served. We acknowledge that $2500 is not enough on its own to stop displacement, but we are confident that this amount can be a solid stepping stone toward stability. The information you provide in your application will be kept confidential and may be used to secure additional program funding. We welcome any feedback you may have and encourage you to contact sharmi@vitalarts.org with any questions or comments.

Grant Announcement: February 2024

Open Application: Monday, February 26th, 2024

Application Deadline: Friday, March 8th, 2024

Grantee Notification: Monday, March 25th, 2024

Award Distribution: Week of March 30th, 2024

Eligible artists may receive one $2,500 grant per two years for displacement prevention. Artists can apply each round, up to twice yearly. If awarded, artists may reapply two years after receiving the grant funds.

For questions or concerns, contact us at nica@vitalarts.org or call 415-228-0281. Leave a message with your preferred contact method, and we'll respond promptly. To fill out the application, you will need a Gmail account. Vital Arts understands this is a potential barrier, and you may need assistance setting up an account. Please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be more than happy to walk you through the application and Gmail creation process.

Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes, contáctenos en nica@vitalarts.org o llame al 415-228-0281. Deje un mensaje con su método de contacto preferido y le responderemos a la brevedad. Para completar la solicitud, necesitará una cuenta de Gmail. Vital Arts comprende que esto es una barrera potencial y es posible que necesite ayuda para configurar una cuenta. Por favor no dude en contactar con nosotros. Estaremos encantados de guiarte a través del proceso de creación de la solicitud y de Gmail.

Purpose

Timeline

Contact

About the Grant

  • The Artist Displacement Grant program requires artists to provide details about their art or cultural practice, their current funding need, and three work samples from the past two years. 

    For our 2024 round of Artist Displacement Prevent Grants, artists must reside in the following counties:

    Alameda

    Contra Costa

    San Francisco

    Priority will be given to those from historically oppressed backgrounds, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, homeless, and elder communities.

    We accept applications from artists and cultural workers who practice in the following disciplines. If your discipline is not listed, please let us know:

    Visual Art

    Sound Art

    Music

    Media Art

    Folk and Traditional Arts

    Video/Film

    Dance

    Performance Art

    Theater

    Fibers and Crafts

    Social Practice

    Sculpture/Installation

    Interdisciplinary

  • Applicants must use ADPG funds to fund activities that address or prevent their own displacement, including the following:

    Paying for immediate shelter

    Covering "back rent" or landlord dues

    Providing a payment on artist-specific residence

    Paying the deposit and/or first month's rent for a new residence

    Acquiring temporary housing

    Addressing impending eviction or homelessness

    Other expenses that put the artist at risk of displacement

    ADPG funds must directly address displacement. They cannot be used for:

    Purchasing artist supplies

    Buying a home or living space

    Paying for an unoccupied mortgage

    Program costs for artistic presentation

    Artist fees

    Anything unrelated to immediate displacement needs

    Please contact nica@vitalarts.org for questions about eligibility.

  • The application is open from Monday, February 26th to Friday, March 8th, 2024. To fill out the application, you will need a Gmail account. Vital Arts understands this is a potential barrier, and you may need assistance setting up an account. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@vitalarts.org or by calling 415-228-0281. We would be more than happy to walk you through the application and Gmail creation process.

    English Application:

    Spanish Application

  • The deadline for our first round of 2024 is Friday, March 8th, 2024

  • Launch Announcement: February 2024

    Open Application: Monday, February 26th, 2024

    Close Application: Friday, March 8th, 2024

    Grantee Notification: Monday, March 25th, 2024

    Award Distribution: week of March 30th, 2024

  • To download our comprehensive application guidelines, please refer to this link.

    Para descargar nuestras pautas de solicitud completas, haga clic en este enlace.

  • For frequently asked questions, please click here.

    Para preguntas frecuentes, haga clic aquí.