Are you a US-based artist, musician, writer or cultural worker looking for funds to complete a project about Economic Justice, the Occupy movement, or the 99%? Then apply for a grant!

  APPLY! 

Please read the following information before applying.

OVERVIEW

ArtIsMyOccupation.org is a US-based cultural activism project whose mission is support cultural work on economic justice across a broad spectrum of artforms, issues, communities, and geographic locations within the US. While we aim to support projects within occupy, we will also support work within communities being impacted by the economic crisis who are organizing their own autonomous efforts. We will even support projects done in collaboration with established organizations, if they are pursuing courageous, visionary campaigns.

GRANTS

We are currently offering emergency production grants in amounts of $300, $500, and $1000. We may not be able to fund your whole project, so please apply for only what you need. These 'mini-grants' are intended to support some of your time and materials. We understand that for some these are not large amounts, so we hope to support projects that have already been initiated, or are supported by other sources as well. The goal is to bridge the gaps between what you currently have and what you need to get the project done, and into the public eye.

HOW TO APPLY

First, read the guidelines on this page carefully, then click APPLY to start filling out your application.

Step 1: Join by signing up and giving us some basic info about you as an artist.

Step 2: Write some short descriptions about your project

Step 3: Attach supporting materials including a resume or images (if you have them)

DEADLINE

Apply any time. There are no deadlines. However, it will take us at least 1 week to process your application, and if selected, at least another week to distribute funds. So, make sure you leave 2-3 weeks before the time you need the support in hand. We do not make retroactive grants for funds already spent on completed projects.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

This is a grant for artists, who we define to be: visual artists, musicians, creative writers, performers, comedians, pranksters, programmers, storytellers and cultural workers in general. Henceforth we will use the word “artist” or “cultural worker” to define this broad group of creative practitioners. You must be at least 18 yrs old to apply. You must have the ability to receive funds, which means that individuals should have a valid Social Security #, or partner up with an organization that has a valid EIN #. You must be a practicing artist with the skills required to complete the proposed project.

ISSUE AREAS

We seek to support projects that address one or more of the following issues:

1. Corporate Power & Democracy

2. Jobs & Unemployment

3. Housing & Foreclosures

4. Educations & Student Debt

5. Health Care

6. Alternative Economies

7. Impact on Communities of Color, Migrants, and Native Nations.

We remain open to other economic justice issues, so feel free to propose them in your application.

CULTURAL MEDIA THAT WE SUPPORT

It's wide open. We enthusiastically support traditional forms of art like Posters, Printmaking, Songwriting, Performance and Dance. However, we also support forms of cultural work that have direct, immediate impact on grassroots mobilizations either in public or on-line, like Street Theatre, Animation, Graphic Novels, Pranks, Flash Mobs, Comedy Sketches, Youtube videos, you name it. In particular, we enjoy supporting work that lies in the intersection of public spectacle, mass participation, and art.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We will use the following indicators to evaluate projects:

- Quality work

- Innovative approach to engaging the public

- Connection to occupy or other economic justice struggle

- Ethnic, gender and geographic diversity

- Scale of impact (proportionate to location)

WHAT WE DON’T FUND

Large equipment purchases or long distance travel.

AN IDEAL FIT IS...

An artist who has...

1. A direct, existing relationship with the occupy movement, a community-based organization or non-profit waging a campaign on the front lines of economic justice issues;

2. A track record of creating quality work that has impacted many people;

3. The ability to clearly express what the proposed project is going to be when completed.

HOW TO SUBMIT WORK SAMPLES

Please send any required images, audio files, or video as email attachments to the apply@artismyoccupation.org

LEGAL GUIDELINES

Please read the following legal guidelines.

You get through all that? Awesome. You are ready to...

  APPLY!