Research/Development Grants
Overview
Big Field Fund Research/Development Grants award between $1500-$3000 to support artists in the early stages of an ambitious project that will fulfill one or more of the following focus areas:
projects that manifest new and inventive models to present/nurture/deploy visuals arts in Iowa
projects that support under-resourced artists and creative communities
projects that engage with vulnerable or underutilized resources, structures, systems, or ecologies
projects that would likely not otherwise be eligible for financial support due to their multidisciplinary, ephemeral, or risk-taking nature
BFF R/D Grants are intended to support eastern Iowa artists (this year, defined as within 80 miles of Iowa City and in the state of Iowa). In addition to the financial award to support their work, BFF will support grantees with:
a public award celebration
a grantee cohort gathering
a studio visit/consultation with an artist, curator, or specialist in the field
promotion of their projects via BFF’s communication channels
Important Dates
June 10, 2024
First Round Applications Open
Aug. 1, 2024
First Round Applications Due
11:59pm CDT
Aug. 15, 2024
First Round Applicants Notified;
Second Round Applications Open
Oct. 1, 2024
Second Round Applications Due
11:59pm CDT
Second Round Application Info is here!
Nov. 15, 2024
Second Round Applicants Notified
Dec. 1, 2024
Grantee Contracts Due
Dec. 2024
Award Celebration + Funding Distributed
Feb-Apr. 2025
Grantee Cohort Gathering
Grantee Individual Check-ins
May-Aug. 2025
Exact date TBA.
Dec. 1, 2025
Proposed Project Activities Complete, Grant Reports Due
Eligibility
Applicants must:
be at least 18 years old
reside and plan to produce the project within 80 miles of Iowa City and in the state of Iowa (see map here)
have an active artistic practice and be able to demonstrate recent work
have the ability to complete work proposed within one year of the grant award (largely in the calendar year 2025)
Applicants may not be:
a non-profit or incorporated business (501(c)(3)s, LLCs, S- or C-Corp, or partnership)
enrolled in a full-time degree-granting program
R/D proposals must:
support progress towards a future publicly-realized project in the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, social practice, performance art, film/video, photography, textiles, ceramics, cross-disciplinary, public art, etc.)
incorporate activities that expand your ability to pursue a future project (such as learning a new technical skill, building relationships with potential collaborators/partners, conducting research through reading/ interviews/site visits, creating prototypes, etc.)
Application & Selection Process
BFF applications must be made via BFF’s Submittable website. You’ll need to create a free Submittable account to log in to the application website.
The first round of applications will be reviewed for eligibility by BFF staff. All eligible first round applicants will be invited to submit a second round application which provides more detail on the proposed project.
Preview first round application questions here. [PDF] [text]
The second round of applications will be reviewed by the 2024 BFF jury, composed of two Iowa artists and/or curators and two national artists and/or curators. Up to 4 applications will be selected for a R/D grant.
Second round applications will include:
a detailed project description
a detailed project budget
support documents
FAQs
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Yes, we welcome applications to support collaborative projects. However, one of the collaborators must serve as the lead artist on the application. In the second round, there will be an opportunity to identify project collaborators and describe the nature of the collaboration.
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You are not eligible as a lead applicant, but you could be a collaborator with another artist/artist collective in the eligible region.
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BFF grants are intended to support projects that go beyond individual studio practice and traditional approaches to publicly presenting artwork. While this does not necessarily exclude a solo creative practice or gallery exhibition, a strong project proposal will justify how this approach fulfills the goals of the BFF.
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Applications must come from an individual (not an incorporated nonprofit or business). Submitting a BFF Project or R/D Grant proposal tied to your individual artistic practice is possible as long as the related project is not part of your business endeavors. If awarded a grant, all grant funds must remain separate from your business. Your proposal will still need to meet the other eligibility criteria, including the public realization of a project that engages with the visual arts and fulfills one or more of the BFF focus areas.
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Paying artists (including yourself and collaborators) and other workers, supplies, marketing costs, equipment (equipment purchase may only be 25% of your budget), documentation, venue costs, travel.