Artist Programs
Overview
The Foundation runs a set of artist-centered programs that fulfill Joan Mitchell’s ambition to “aid and assist” artists through grants, residencies, and related initiatives. See these programs below, or learn more here.
Artist Grants
Current Grant Programs
Painters & Sculptors Grants
Through a nomination process, the Foundation annually awards twenty-five artists in the amount of $25,000 each. These grants are given to acknowledge painters and sculptors creating work of exceptional quality. Learn more.
Emergency Grants
The Joan Mitchell Foundation provides up to $6,000 in emergency support to US-based visual artists working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, and/or drawing, who have suffered significant losses after natural or man-made disasters that have affected a region on a broad scale. Learn more.
Past Grant Programs
MFA Grants
The MFA Grant Program was administered from 1997–2012, and supported painters and sculptors receiving their MFA degrees. The Foundation awarded fifteen artists $15,000 annually to aid in the transition from academic to professional studio work upon graduation. Learn more.
Emerging Artist Grants
The Emerging Artist Grant Pilot Program was an initiative administered from 2015–2016, and awarded a diverse group of ten artists with an unrestricted grant of $12,000 per artist in addition to professional support throughout the year. Learn more.
1994 Painters & Sculptors Grant Recipients
Creating a Living Legacy Program
(CALL)
The Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) initiative recognizes that artists of all ages may need support to organize their studios and take charge of their creative legacies. Learn more.
Elemore Morgan Jr. (right), CALL Artist and 2006 Painters & Sculptors Grant Recipient with Paul Mpagi Sepuya
Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, CALL Artist and 1996 Painters & Sculptors Grant Recipient
Organizational Grant Program
From 1995–2017, the Joan Mitchell Foundation provided funding to arts organizations that supported the individual artist. Learn more.
House of the Rising Sun, Paul Deo, commissioned by the Arts Council of New Orleans
The Importance of In/Visibility, Amerinda Inc.
Resources
The Artist Centered Program produces freely available resources to assist artists at all levels in their careers. Selected resources are available for download here.
FAQ
- How do I apply for an individual artist grant?
The Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant grants for individual artists are only awarded through nomination. We do not have an open application process for this unrestricted grant. For further information on why we use a nomination process, please read our expanded thoughts here.
- How do I apply to participate in the Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) Program?
Although the Foundation is no longer providing artists with direct grants to support their legacy planning and studio organization work, CALL resources are freely available to the public via the Foundation’s resources page here and CALLResources.org.
- Is it possible to receive information on the Foundation’s nominators for the Painters & Sculptors Program or the Emerging Artist Program?
The Foundation’s nominators are kept confidential.
- Can I nominate an artist for your Painters & Sculptors Grant Program or Emerging Artist Grant Program?
The Foundation cannot accept unsolicited nominations. The Foundation invites nominators from across the country each year to participate anonymously in our grant program nominations.
- How can I apply for an Emergency Grant?
The Foundation can fund painters and sculptors who have suffered losses due to a natural or man-made disaster that has affected a community. Please see the Emergency Grant section on our website for more information. You are also welcome to contact the Foundation with any questions.