FAQs

The AWAW EAG will support environmental art projects that inspire thought, action, and ethical engagement. Projects should not only point at problems, but aim to engage an environmental issue at some scale. Proposals should illustrate thorough consideration of a project’s ecological and social ethics. Projects that explore interdependence, relationships, and systems through Indigenous and ancestral practices are encouraged to apply.

The intended impact of the project is an important factor in the selection process. Environmental art projects that qualify for this program may focus on the following themes, but are not limited to:

• Regeneration
• Eco-social engagement
• Decarbonization as decolonization
• Ecofeminism
• Climate change / climate collapse
• Systems-restoration
• Interspecies relationships
• Natural or built systems
• Recycling and repurposing
• Clean energy production
• Bioplastics

Environment is the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. Natural and manmade spaces are both considered environments. For example, an urban location is an acceptable focus for a proposed project. The AWAW EAG seeks to support projects involving a wide range of environments.

The AWAW EAG is a project grant, and seeks to support the completion of an existing project or a phase of a project that is already in development. The “phase” can be a part or iteration of a larger, ongoing project that does not have an endpoint within the grant period (August 2023 – June 2024). The completion of a phase will be marked by the public engagement component required by this grant.

Public engagements must be free, open to the general public, and completed by June 30, 2024. That could include, but is not limited to, a screening, exhibition, performance, lecture, panel discussion, or other live event. The public engagement component must add value to the public sphere rather than solely benefiting the artist’s private gain. Online events are acceptable as long as they are attended by a live audience.

No. The public engagement component of the AWAW EAG must be free and open to the public. Recipients are only required to organize one free public engagement within the grant period. Any additional engagements/distribution of the project within the timeframe of the grant are not required to be free.

The AWAW EAG is open to artists in all disciplines. Within the application, you will be asked to select one of the following disciplines that best reflects your creative practice today:

• Craft/Textiles (including: Ceramics, Glass, Wood, Metal, Fiber, and Mixed Media)
• Choreography/Dance (all forms)
• Community Arts
• Design/Architecture (Environmental and Functional Design)
• Digital/Electronic Arts (works where technology is an essential element of the work’s creation)
• Folk/Traditional Arts (works of traditional Folk Art and creative and cultural expressions)
• Interdisciplinary Work (integrate knowledge and methods from different disciplines within a single piece or body of work)
• Literary Arts (including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting, and Screenwriting)
• Music/Sound (Composers working in any and all styles of music)
• Theater/Performance (including Directing, Live Action, and Puppetry)
• Video/Film (all forms)
• Visual Arts (including: Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Drawing, and Sculpture)

Yes artists can apply as a team or collaborative, but there must be one lead applicant for the proposal who fulfills the eligibility guidelines. Only one application may be submitted per project. 

While the project lead must fulfill eligibility requirements, collaborators do not. For example, collaborators do not need to identify as women.

No. You can only apply one time with one project. However, if you are involved in someone else’s project in addition to your own and are listed as a collaborator, this is acceptable. You cannot be the project lead on more than one application.

No. Regardless of your field of study, you cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind.

No. You do not need to be U.S. Citizens to apply. You must be able to provide a W-9 with a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or EIN (after selection).

No. You do not need to have a Fiscal Sponsor for their project. If your project already has a Fiscal Sponsor and you wish to include this organization in the funding process, you can.

Yes. All past recipients of any NYFA and AWAW grants are eligible to apply. However, the previously funded project must be completed and all NYFA reports must have been successfully completed.

NYFA only accepts applications online via Submittable. A link to the application will be available on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 10AM ET at the following link: https://apply.nyfa.org/submit

If you have not submitted an application with NYFA’s Grants department before, you may need to create a new Submittable account. Visit www.submittable.com to start a free account.

If you have submitted an application with NYFA Grants in the past, you can use those credentials to apply for this grant.

Step-by-step guidance for using the Submittable platform and setting up a free account is available here.

We highly suggest using a laptop desktop computer to complete your application on the platform. For a smoother performance, we recommend using either Firefox or Chrome as your browser. If you’re already using Chrome, We highly suggest using a laptop or desktop computer to complete your application on the platform. For a smoother performance, we recommend using either Firefox or Chrome as your browser. If you’re already using Chrome, please clear the browser cache and cookies. Additionally, please make sure you are using the most up to date version of your browser.

If you are still running into technical issues, you can reach out to Submittable’s Support team directly via the contact form, Submitter Support, or via the support email address [email protected] so that they can troubleshoot directly.

NYFA staff do not have access to your Submittable account. 

We strongly encourage that you apply at least 2 days before the deadline in case technical difficulties come up to allow time to troubleshoot. In the event you encounter technical difficulties on the last day and as a result cannot get your application in on time, NYFA cannot extend the deadline regardless of the cause of the problem you may have encountered.

Please email [email protected] to request an accommodation or assistance in applying by April 6, 2023.

No. All applications must be submitted online via the Submittable platform. To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email [email protected].

We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, and no later than April 6, 2023, to allow adequate time for staff to support you before the deadline.

Instructions for scanning documents on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch are available here. Instructions for scanning documents on an Android device using Google Drive are available here.

Work samples should be representative of your grant project and you must be the originating artist of all work samples submitted. You can upload up to 5 work samples. 

Work samples can be: images, a manuscript (5 pages max), audio recording (5 min max), or short video clips (5 min max). If you are unable to edit your audio/video files down to 5 minutes, you will need to provide timestamps for the 5 minute segment that the panel will review. Once you have selected and uploaded your file, an additional metadata field will appear in the application form. Please include any timestamps here.

The application form accepts the following file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .m4a, .mp3, .wav, .mov, and .mp4

This free online tool can help you convert to a wide variety of file types.

You have the option of including notes and comments about your work samples in the metadata field. Once you have selected and uploaded your file, an additional metadata field will appear in the application form. Please include additional information about the work samples here.

By completing this information you are helping NYFA secure future funding, collect general information about our audience, and properly assess our effectiveness in serving the creative community. Your responses will remain confidential and will only be reviewed by NYFA staff members. Any personally identifying data will be removed prior to sharing the demographic data with third parties.

NYFA is committed to supporting individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines and will continue to work towards values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility across all programs. Read NYFA’s DEIA statement on our website.

Applications are first reviewed for eligibility, and then all eligible applications are reviewed by panelists through elimination rounds, producing a smaller pool for each round. An artist’s advancement is a product of the collective vote of the panel. A single panelist cannot ensure an applicant’s success or failure. Panelists will use the Evaluation Criteria listed on the Application Guidelines to review and score each application. 

Panelists are individuals experienced in environmental art. Recommendations for potential panelists come from Panelists are individuals experienced in environmental art. Recommendations for potential panelists come from many sources including: NYFA’s Artists’ Advisory Committee, arts and cultural organizations around the US, and suggestions from practicing artists. NYFA makes every effort to assemble diverse panels, considering gender, ethnicity, cultural background, and geographic location. Panelists’ names are kept confidential until the awards are announced.

All applicants will receive notification on the outcome of their application by early August 2023 from the [email protected] email address. Please do not email us regarding the status of your application.

Each project can request up to $20,000 in funding. If awarded, the final grant amount is determined by the review panel. You must submit an overall project budget as well as an itemized list for the requested fund allocation.

The AWAW EAG grant period is from August 2023 to June 2024. All funds must be used towards the completion of your project or phase of your project within the grant period. 

If part of your funding is intended to be spent on large material items or equipment, be sure to include why these purchases are essential to the portion of your project being supported by AWAW EAG. No more than 15% of the award can be used for marketing and promotion, and reimbursements are not allowed. Artist or service fees, rentals, and subscriptions are only accepted for the length of the grant period.

Yes. Funded projects must complete a final report clearly outlining how the AWAW Environmental Art Grant was used to complete the project (or phase(s) of the project) along with sharing information on attendance numbers and public access plans or outcomes.

Yes. This grant is funded by Anonymous Was A Woman. If you would like to contribute to this initiative, please email [email protected].