Fulcrum Fund Emergency Relief Grants

The Fulcrum Fund, a grant program of 516 ARTS and a partner in the Regional Regranting Program of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, announces a second round of emergency relief grants to benefit the local arts community. In partnership with the Frederick Hammersley Foundation, which is providing $60,000 toward this effort, this round will provide grants of $5,000 to 12 alternative art spaces in New Mexico that have lost income as a result of the cornavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

Round #1 (deadline was April 15), we received 389 applications for 60 $1,000 grants to individual artists living and working within an 80-mile radius of Albuquerque. Round #2 provides a focus on artist-run and alternative artspaces, which has been a category of projects recognized by the Fulcrum Fund for the past four years. This dispersal of funds is part of an effort to help sustain these spaces until they can reopen after the pandemic.

ELIGIBILITY:

Fulcrum Fund Emergency relief grants are for small, artist-run, alternative visual artspaces in New Mexico that have lost income as a result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Non-commercial and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations throughout the state are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications are only accepted online via Submittabled, emailed or hand-delivered submissions will cannot be accepted. Organizations are asked to fill out a simple application online, which includes submitting 4 images of their space, 4 examples of work by artists they have shown recently, a short description of their mission, and a short statement of financial need. Applications will be accepted through May 15, 11:59pm with release of funding shortly thereafter.

SELECTION PANEL:

The selections will be made by a panel of arts professionals including: Alicia Inez Guzmán, Independent journalist and curator (based in Santa Fe); Josie Lopez, Curator of Art, Albuquerque Museum; Larry Bob Phillips, Residency Director, Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program; Juniper Manley, Executive Director, Harwood Museum of Art (Taos), and Marisa Sage (Director/Curator, NMSU Art Museum (Las Cruces). Panelists will evaluate submissions based on a combination of criteria including demonstration of both financial need and active artistic practice, and with a commitment to equity that ensures diversity among awardees and the inclusion of artists whose communities are underrepresented in relationship to visual art opportunities, economies, and access to funding.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If I applied to the first funding round do I need to re-apply in order to be considered?
Yes, since the opportunities are distinct and now state-wide, the application asked different questions that pertain to the artspace you run or manage, you’ll need to re-apply to be considered for the second round.

If I received a grant from the Fulcrum Fund first round, am I eligible to apply for the second round?
Yes.

What can be considered an artist-run, alternative visual artspace?
Generally speaking, these are exhibition spaces that do not rely on art sales to sustain their operations. Rather, they rely on alternative income sources such as out-of-pocket funding, grants (in the case of a 501(c)3 nonprofits), or contributions. Alternative spaces have a long history as sites of experimentation and are rooted in providing emerging artists opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist.

What kinds of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations will be considered?
Consideration will be given to established nonprofit arts organizations that have a track record of presenting and supporting visual arts programming.

Will this grant support theatrical, dance or musical venues?
While we recognize that all of these disciplines play a vital role in the arts ecosystem and are also in financial need, we are only able to fund artspaces engaging in visual art-related programming at this time.

If I am selected, how soon will I receive the funding?
With the Fulcrum Fund deadline of May 15, funding will be quickly dispersed the following week by check to the address provided upon receipt of a signed grant contract and w9.

Are there any requirements for reporting?
Yes, recipients will submit very brief report that lets us know how the money was used and will be due 30 days after receipt of the funds.

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