Early Career Artist Program Microgrants
The American Craft Council provides innovative programs that support craft-centered livelihoods, including initiatives designed to meet the needs of artists as they build their careers.
ACC grant offerings.
With generous support from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, ACC has established three grant opportunities, available exclusively to members of our Early Career Artist Program. ACC will accept grant applications on a rolling basis and announce recipients through a bi-monthly newsletter and on ACC’s website.
Tools & Equipment Grant
Over the course of a year, fifteen Early Career Artist Program participants will receive a $2,500 grant to purchase tools and equipment that will help grow their creative practice and business. Examples of tools and equipment include: a kiln, a jeweler’s saw, a workbench, or an anvil. Materials are not eligible for this grant.
This grant requires submission of a simple budget, which can be provided in a text format or uploaded as a Word document, PDF, or spreadsheet. Click here to download a budget template if needed.
Professional Development Grant
The Professional Development Grant provides up to $2,500 in funding for participation in professional development opportunities and activities that build skills for creative entrepreneurs. Examples of professional development activities include, but are not limited to: conferences, professional development workshops, professional or business coaching, membership to organizations that offer professional development opportunities, and other activities that enhance professional knowledge.
This grant requires submission of a simple budget, which can be provided in a text format or uploaded as a Word document, PDF, or spreadsheet. Click here to download a budget template if needed.
Career Advancement Grant
Over the course of a year, fifteen participants in the Early Career Artist Program will receive a $2,500 grant to support their career advancement. Career advancement is the process by which an individual makes significant progress in their career, and this grant is intended to support that trajectory by removing barriers to opportunities as they present themselves. Examples of how funding could be used to advance your career could include, but are not limited to: shipping of work for exhibitions or other opportunities, travel expenses to meet with a mentor, booth fees for trying a new craft fair (such as ACC’s Baltimore fair), or other opportunities as they arise.
Microgrant eligibility.
To apply for any of the three grants, you must be a current member of the American Craft Council’s Early Career Artist Program at the time of application submission.
Members of the Early Career Artist Program may apply for each of the three grants within a single calendar year. You are welcome to apply for more than one grant at a time; however, you may not receive the same grant twice in a single year.
Application Process and Review
ACC staff and outside panelists with craft expertise will review eligible applications on a monthly basis. Artists will be selected on a monthly basis. Grant applications that include time-based requests, such as attending a conference, will be noted. Eligible applications that are not selected for funding will be reconsidered the following month. Artists who submit applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted and are welcome to resubmit their applications for review.
Grant Notifications and Agreement
Artists who receive grants will be highlighted in ACC’s monthly newsletters and are required to complete a short post-grant survey three months after receiving funds. Grantees will receive a grant agreement to sign and are asked to provide the following materials to ACC:
- Completed W9
- Portrait
- Short biography
How to apply?
To apply, submit an application below.
To access the form, you must be logged in as an active ACC member. For all microgrants, you must also already be in the Early Career Artist Program prior to being considered.
These grants were made possible with support from the
Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
Sign in to your member account.
Sign in to your member account to apply for the Early Career Artist Microgrants.