BIPOC Deaf Arts Grant Program

The BIPOC Deaf Arts Grant is an annual funding program established in 2021 and administered by Deaf Spotlight in collaboration with Urban Jazz Dance Company. Deaf Spotlight, based in Seattle, Washington, is an organization dedicated to showcasing Deaf culture and supporting Deaf artists, while Urban Jazz Dance Company operates out of the Bay Area, California, focusing on inclusive artistic expression. Together, these organizations created this grant to address inequities in the arts by providing financial support specifically to artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color and who are also Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing. The program is designed to help both emerging and established artists sustain and advance their creative careers within a challenging and often underfunded arts landscape. The primary purpose of the grant is to support artistic development and project advancement across a wide range of disciplines, including literary, media, performing, tactile, and visual arts. The funding is flexible and can be used for a variety of artistic needs such as project expenses, artist wages, supplies, equipment rentals, marketing, travel, documentation, training, and accessibility services. However, there are explicit restrictions on the use of funds, including prohibitions on non-art-related purchases, tuition, political activities, and contributions to government or religious institutions. This ensures that the funding remains focused on supporting creative output and professional artistic growth. Eligibility for the grant is clearly defined and inclusive within its targeted population. Applicants must identify as BIPOC and as Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing, must be at least 18 years old by the application deadline, and must reside in the United States or its territories, though citizenship is not required. Applicants must also be original artists working in one of the eligible disciplines. Certain individuals are excluded from applying, including current staff, board members, or committee members of the administering organizations, as well as previous recipients of the grant. Prior volunteers may apply but must disclose their relationship to the organizations. The application process requires submission through an official application form and includes several narrative and supporting components. Applicants must provide a short biography, descriptions of their artistic work and its importance, and a detailed explanation of how they intend to use the grant funds. They must also submit samples of their work, ranging from three to five pieces created within the last ten years, each accompanied by relevant metadata such as title, dimensions, year, and summary. Accessibility requirements are emphasized, particularly for works with audio components, which must include transcripts, captions, or other accessible formats. Applications are evaluated through a structured review process that includes an initial eligibility and completeness check followed by assessment from an appointed screening committee. Evaluation criteria are weighted equally and focus on the applicant’s vision for the grant, demonstrated experience and potential, and evidence of artistic growth over time. The program emphasizes both the feasibility of the proposed use of funds and the trajectory of the artist’s development, ensuring that recipients are those who can effectively utilize the support to further their practice. For the 2026 cycle, the application period opens on June 1 and closes on August 28 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Applications are reviewed in September, with notifications and public announcements of recipients occurring in October. The grant is recurring annually, and in 2026, five awards of 1000 dollars each will be distributed, with geographic considerations ensuring representation from the Pacific Northwest, California, and a national applicant. Recipients are required to provide a post-award reflection or video documenting the impact of the funding and must grant permission for promotional use of their work by Deaf Spotlight. Questions and accommodation requests can be directed to the program email, ensuring accessibility throughout the application process.

Clearly demonstrate how funds will support artistic growth provide strong examples of past work and articulate a clear plan for use of funds