The Sustainable Arts Foundation is a non-profit foundation supporting artists and writers with families. Our mission is to provide financial awards to parents pursuing creative work.

Too often, creative impulses are set aside to meet the wonderful, but pressing, demands of raising a family. The foundation’s goal is to encourage parents to continue pursuing their creative passion, and to rekindle it in those who may have let it slide.

The Sustainable Arts Foundation was founded in 2010 by Caroline and Tony Grant. We were inspired largely by the example of Tony’s late father, the painter and sculptor James Grant, who continued to work in his Folsom Street studio after becoming a parent (often bringing Tony and his brother along to play or nap in a corner). His career changed in those years; he showed less often and started jewelry and jigsaw puzzle businesses, turning to crafts that were a bit faster to make and sell.

We were moved, too, by the stories in the documentary, Who Does She Think She Is?, about artists who are moms and how they keep their creative lives strong in the face of parenting’s many challenges.

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Please read these instructions carefully before you begin.We strive to keep our application process as simple as possible. Please keep one thought in mind: the better we understand your work, the easier it is to evaluate it. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of applications go unfunded. Please know that regardless of the outcome, we greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into your application.

RACIAL EQUITY
Starting with our Fall 2016 Awards, we are committed to offering half our awards to applicants of color. You can read more about this decision on our website.We’ve answered some questions about logistics in our FAQ below.

We welcome your questions and comments.

AWARDS
The foundation will award the following:Sustainable Arts Foundation Award: $6,000
Sustainable Arts Foundation Promise Award: $2,000

We typically offer five of each award in each application round. Additionally, we will publicly announce a number of applicants (typically 10 in each round) as finalists.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, the applicant must have at least one child under the age of 18.

DISCIPLINES
The foundation offers awards in two major categories: visual arts and writing.Writers may apply in one of the following categories:

Fiction
Creative Nonfiction
Poetry
Long Form Journalism
Playwriting
Picture Books
Early and Middle Grade Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
Graphic Novel

Visual artists may apply in one of the following categories:

Painting
Sculpture
Drawing/Illustration
Printmaking
Mixed-media
Photography
Installation

At this time we are not accepting applications in the performing arts, film/video/tv (including screenplays), music, jewelry, pottery, and other crafts.

CRITERIA
We seek to reward excellence. Your portfolio–which may (but need not) allude to your parenting–will assist us in evaluating your work. We’re also interested in hearing what your plans are, and how this award might assist you in attaining your goals.