Artist Programs
Fulfilling Joan Mitchell’s ambition to “aid and assist” artists, the Foundation offers a range of programs and resources designed to meet the commitment of artists to sustain their creative practices.
Painters & Sculptors Grants
The annual Painters & Sculptors Grants recognize the vision and artistic contributions of 25 artists nationally with unrestricted funds of $25,000 each. These awards are decided through a nomination and jury process; artists receive an invitation to apply if they are nominated.
Emergency Grants
Disasters are unpredictable, and the impact on an artist’s life and work can be devastating. Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded grants to affected artists to help them get back to their artistic practices.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we increased and reallocated the Foundation's 2020 Emergency Grants budget to Artist Relief, a national initiative providing relief grants of $5,000 to individual artists across disciplines, and Creative Response, a New Orleans-based relief effort.
Residencies in New Orleans
At the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans, we offer artists dedicated time and space for the creative process through one- to five-month residencies.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have redesigned the residency program for Fall 2020 and 2021 to focus on studio space and virtual programming for New Orleans-based artists.
Creating a Living Legacy
Through the Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) initiative, we encourage artists to honor and preserve a lifetime of work through intentional legacy planning. Artists, their family members, and estate executors can access free resources on career documentation, inventory management, and estate planning.
Professional Development
We offer professional consultations, training, and knowledge building as core aspects of our programs for artists. Many of our guides, articles, and resource lists are made available to a wider audience online.
Past Programs
Over the decades, the Foundation has evolved our programs as we work to understand and support artists' needs. Past programs include:
- MFA Grants (1997 to 2012)
- Art Education (1997 to 2016)
- Organizational Grants (2005 to 2017)
- Emerging Artist Grants (2015 to 2016)
- Early Art Practitioners Initiatives (2017 to 2019)