THRIVE Grants

The THRIVE Grants program is administered by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts through its Regional Regranting Program. The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting visual artists across Oklahoma by providing funding opportunities, professional development, and community engagement initiatives. Through THRIVE Grants, the organization aims to foster innovation and expand opportunities for artists to create ambitious, community-centered visual arts projects that engage the public in meaningful ways. The primary purpose of the THRIVE Grants program is to support artist-led visual arts projects that are innovative, collaborative, and impactful within communities across Oklahoma. The program prioritizes projects that push the boundaries of traditional art presentation and encourage new forms of engagement between artists and audiences. Funded projects must focus on the visual arts and cannot be primarily rooted in other disciplines such as dance, theater, music, or commercial filmmaking. Additionally, projects must be publicly accessible, though applicants are encouraged to define their intended audience and tailor engagement strategies accordingly. Funding is available in two tiers, with grants awarded in amounts of either 5,000 or 10,000 dollars. These funds are flexible and may be used at the discretion of the artist to accomplish the proposed project, including compensating the lead artist and collaborators. The program does not fund ongoing organizational programming or business operations, as it is specifically designed to support unique, time-bound, artist-led initiatives. There is no matching requirement associated with this funding. Projects are expected to be completed within a one-year period, with the funding cycle running from August 2026 through June 2027. Eligibility for the THRIVE Grants program is limited to independent artists, including those operating under an LLC structure, who reside in Oklahoma. The lead applicant and the majority of collaborators must have lived in Oklahoma for at least 12 months prior to applying and must possess a Social Security number. Students currently enrolled in degree-granting arts programs are not eligible to apply as lead applicants but may participate as collaborators. Nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses are not eligible to apply directly. Collaborative projects are encouraged, but one individual must serve as the lead applicant and be responsible for submitting the application and managing the awarded funds. The application process is conducted through the Submittable platform and requires submission of a full proposal by the stated deadline. Applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual information session and may schedule one-on-one office hours for feedback prior to submission. While specific application components are not fully detailed, supporting materials such as budget templates, scoring matrices, and grant writing tips are provided. Applications are evaluated by a committee composed of artists, arts administrators, a previous grant recipient, and a representative from the broader Regional Regranting network. Evaluation criteria include career-altering potential, artistic merit, community impact, and the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the project. The application cycle for this program opens on April 8, 2026, and closes on June 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST. A virtual information session is scheduled for April 23, 2026, and optional office hours are available May 5 through May 7, 2026. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by July 31, 2026. The funding period begins in August 2026 and extends through June 2027. The program operates on an annual cycle, and applicants who receive funding must wait one year after completing their funded project before reapplying. For additional questions or support, applicants may contact the Administrative and Artist Relations Manager, Ariana Weir-Temoshok, via email or phone.

Focus on demonstrating strong community impact, artistic merit, and clear ability to complete the project. Emphasize collaboration, innovation, and engagement with underrepresented communities. Ensure materials are concise and align with review criteria.