Eligibility Criteria

 

Burning Man Project greatly values the Global Art Grants program. However, with the dynamic nature of the current times, we are postponing an announcement on the program status until we’re able to have a better sense of when we can reignite the program. We look forward to sharing an update about the 2023 grant cycle as soon as possible.

 

When reviewing grant submissions we will be prioritizing these elements related to our Mission:

  • Creation of highly interactive, community-driven art
  • Art that can be experienced in public spaces, where everyone has access to view and participate with the art free of charge
  • Art that can be touched, heard and/or experienced
  • Projects that allow participants to engage with the conception, creation and presentation of art
  • Taking risks and providing seed funding that stimulates new explorations and fosters new artists
  • Validation and support for artists that are at the experimental point of their own development
  • Art created by the community for the benefit of that community


Values of the Global Art Grant Program:

  • Cultural Experience 
    • The Mission of Burning Man Project is to facilitate and extend the culture that has issued from the Burning Man event into the larger world. The Burning Man Global Art Grants fund projects that are aligned in the spirit of the Burning Man culture without the expectation that submissions will be coming from those who’ve attended the event or participated in other regional events. We value the potential for the human spirit to flourish through creativity and work to support projects that reflect participatory cultural opportunities for communities worldwide.
  • Impact
    • Installing interactive, community-driven art in places where the community might not otherwise be exposed to the benefits of connecting people through art
  • Risk taking 
    • Allowing failure to be part of the process, knowing the value these experiences have in building more robust artists
  • Skill Building
    • Teaching and encouraging others to learn about creating art, building community, and engaging with civic entities. We encourage both the artist(s) and participants to learn together

 

Who We Fund:

  • Individual artists
  • Art groups, organizations and collectives (we do NOT require groups to have nonprofit 501(c)3 status)
  • Artists located anywhere on the globe; there are no geographic restrictions placed on those who can apply
  • While we do welcome projects from established artists, our focus is to encourage, support and take risks on new and emerging artists
  • Anyone who’s previously applied for or received any type of Burning Man (or BRAF) grant, we encourage you to apply again
  • We fund art projects that are proposed by people, creatives, artists, designers, community members who align with the Burning Man ethos and 10 Principles based cultural standards. Grantees may or may not have been to a Burning Man event, nor is it a requirement to receive a Global Art Grant

 

What We DO Fund:

  • All funded projects must be art that is accessible to the public
  • Grants can be applied towards the creation of interactive artworks
  • Grants can be applied towards the development of community programs or organizations that support the creation of interactive artworks
  • The cost of the materials necessary to fulfill the project’s vision
  • Limited Artist Fees: In some instances, we will fund artist fees when the form of art-making and engagement is reliant on the person to be realized
  • Food for volunteers and community members if it is a legitimate part of project process of engagement
  • While we don’t prioritize touring and exhibitions of art, projects that are found to be interactive, participatory, and/or include ongoing elements of community engagement may still be evaluated to determine if they fit the mission of the Global Art Grant program
  • Our grants range from between $500 and $10,000, with most awards ranging between $3,000 and $6,000. Please consider this when proposing your budget

 

WHAT Burning Man Global Art Grants DO NOT Fund:

  • Solo projects that do not involve others or the community
  • Static work, such as art with no interactive component
  • Touring and exhibitions of previously created art
  • Transportation fees
  • Entrepreneurial endeavors
  • Gallery work, such as work hung in a gallery
  • Photography
  • Screenplays
  • Films
  • Websites
  • Publications – poetry books, photo books, fiction, etc
  • Art bound for the Burning Man event in Black Rock City, NV (you may wish to apply for a Black Rock City Honoraria instead)
    • We have given grants to projects that have appeared in Black Rock City, but in these rare cases the Global Art Grant funds were used for display of interactive artworks off-playa
  • Art bound for Burning Man Regional events
  • Social aid or relief efforts with no art component (you may wish to contact Burners Without Borders)
  • Typically we do not fund these unless they have a strong interactive component:
    • Murals
    • Musical productions
    • Theatre productions
    • Written or spoken word
    • Dance productions
    • Performance

 

If your work fits one of the approved categories above, and is highly collaborative, interactive, and engages and supports the community, please read How to Apply for a Global Art Grant.