Provision Fund

The Provision Fund is a private grant program administered by Real Art Ways as part of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts Regional Regranting Program. This initiative is designed to support artist-led creative projects in Connecticut, with a particular emphasis on work grounded in the visual arts. As an inaugural offering intended to recur annually, the fund reflects a broader mission to decentralize arts funding and provide direct support to artists and collectives operating outside traditional institutional frameworks. The program prioritizes projects that extend beyond studio practice and actively engage public audiences through accessible, community-oriented formats. The primary purpose of the Provision Fund is to provide financial support for innovative, artist-driven projects that include a public-facing component. Eligible projects must be rooted in the visual arts, though interdisciplinary approaches are permitted so long as visual art remains the central focus. The program encourages experimentation in how art is shared with the public, including nontraditional venues and formats such as temporary installations, publications, virtual exhibitions, performance spaces, or community-based initiatives. Funded projects may not take place at Real Art Ways and must be independently organized and executed by the artists themselves. The funding scope includes six awards of 10000 dollars each, intended to fully support discrete projects rather than supplement larger-scale initiatives. Applicants are required to demonstrate that the grant will adequately cover the proposed work and that the project is not dependent on significantly larger external funding. Allowable expenses include artist labor, materials, and costs associated with producing and presenting the public-facing component. A competitive budget must explicitly include compensation for the artist or artists involved. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, and projects must be completed within the defined grant period. Eligibility is limited to individual artists, informal collectives, and collaborative groups who are based in Connecticut. Applicants must be independent and unincorporated, and nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply. Groups must designate a lead applicant responsible for submission and financial administration. All applicants must not be full-time students and must be able to provide a Social Security Number for tax reporting purposes. The program requires that applicants maintain full creative and financial control over their projects, ensuring fiscal independence and alignment with the program’s artist-centered values. Applications are submitted online through the Submittable platform and require several core components, including a narrative proposal, project logistics and timeline, visual reference materials, applicant information, and an itemized budget. Additional optional materials may be included to strengthen the submission. The selection process is conducted by a panel of three guest jurors who evaluate proposals based on artistic merit, feasibility, clarity of vision, and the quality and relevance of the public-facing component. Engagement with community, site, or social context is also a key consideration in the evaluation process. The application cycle for this program opens on July 20, 2026, and closes on September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Award recipients are expected to be announced in November 2026. Funded projects must be completed within the grant period spanning from January 15, 2027 to January 15, 2028. As an annual program, future cycles are anticipated to follow a similar timeline. Applicants may contact Real Art Ways directly via email at provisionfund@realartways.org or by phone for additional guidance or clarification during the application process.

Emphasize artistic merit and clarity of vision, demonstrate feasibility with a realistic timeline and budget, and clearly articulate how the project engages a public audience or community context