Collections Grants

The Terra Foundation for American Art Collections Grants program supports permanent collection projects that broaden understandings of American art through inclusive and expansive approaches. The foundation supports projects engaging the visual arts of the United States and Indigenous arts of North America while questioning and broadening established understandings of American art and transforming how its stories are told. Collections grants are intended to contribute to long-term changes in histories of American art and institutional practices. The foundation encourages projects that generate new knowledge and interpretive frameworks, encompass a plurality of voices and perspectives, engage local communities in collaborative content and program creation, and broaden access through inclusive stories, design, and multilingual materials when feasible and relevant. Collections Grants support either planning or implementation of permanent collection reinstallations or temporary exhibitions drawn primarily from an institution's permanent collection. Planning grants typically range from $25,000 to $75,000 and may support short-term project-specific positions, pre-exhibition convenings, research and research travel, advisory committees, conservation up to 25 percent of the grant award, direct staff costs up to 25 percent, and indirect costs up to 15 percent. Implementation grants are available up to $100,000 and may support research and travel, interpretation, signage and labels, artist fees excluding commissions, shipping and related object costs, exhibition design and fabrication, conservation, framing and casework up to 25 percent of the award, rental equipment, programs and events, marketing, project evaluation, dissemination of research, direct staff costs up to 25 percent, and indirect costs up to 15 percent. The program does not support artwork acquisitions or commissions, equipment such as computers or projectors, capital expenditures, projects that are exclusively online, previously opened projects touring to new venues, projects consisting primarily of loans, or grant inquiries or proposals previously declined through this program. Applicants seeking support for research, planning, or installation of temporary exhibitions consisting primarily of loans are directed to the foundation's Exhibition grant program. No matching or cost-share requirement is stated in the provided program information. Eligible applicants must hold United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or its international equivalent, and grants are not made to individuals. The program welcomes museums, art centers, and community-based cultural organizations of varying sizes and annual budgets and from diverse geographies both within and outside the United States. Organizations may submit only one Collections grant inquiry per grant cycle and may receive only one Collections grant per cycle. An organization with multiple subsidiaries may submit no more than one inquiry per grant program for each eligible entity. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of multiple entities when each entity is organizing a separate project. Organizations that previously received a Collections planning grant may subsequently seek implementation support for the same project. The application process begins with submission of a Grant Inquiry Form through the grant portal by the inquiry deadline. The foundation reviews inquiries and may invite selected prospective applicants to submit a Grant Proposal. Formal proposals and all supplementary materials must be written in English. Applicants are asked to clearly and concisely describe the project's intended impact and outcomes and explain how grant funds will supplement existing resources to achieve institutional goals. Invited proposals are reviewed by an external panel of curators and arts professionals representing a diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives, and approaches. The program is described as highly competitive. For projects beginning after May 1, 2027, the Grant Inquiry Form was due August 3, 2026, and invited Grant Proposals are due October 13, 2026. Grant decisions are expected in April 2027. Grant support through the Collections program is offered once yearly. Because the required inquiry deadline has passed, new applicants cannot enter the current invitation-based cycle; the next cycle is anticipated based on the stated annual recurrence. Questions about Collections Grants may be directed to Carrie Haslett, Senior Program Director, Exhibition Grants and Initiatives, at haslett@terraamericanart.org. The foundation also provides blank Grant Inquiry and Grant Proposal forms and Applicant Resources for additional information about application procedures, eligibility, and timelines.

Prioritize projects that broaden understandings of American art, generate new research and interpretive frameworks, include a plurality of voices and intercultural or interdisciplinary perspectives, engage local communities, broaden access through inclusive stories and design, and use multilingual materials when feasible and relevant. Ensure requested costs fall within the program's allowable uses and percentage caps.