National Creativity Day: 10 Grants to Fund Creative Projects and Programs

Oftentimes creative fields and industries are overlooked and underappreciated. However, without creativity, there would no music, art, dance, food, technology, literature, movies, or fashion. Creativity is the mother of invention and is directly responsible for any and all progress in the world. While logic and reason play an important role in discovering new ideas and skills, sometimes it is necessary to think outside of the box and step outside of the status quo.

National Creativity Day falls on May 30th every year and is a great time to recognize the importance of creativity in our everyday lives and work. On this National Creativity Day, GrantWatch wanted to take the time to highlight some of the Arts and Culture grants that are currently available. We hope this list will inspire the artists and dreamers to follow their passion and make a difference in their community and the world.

How to Celebrate National Creativity Day

1. Take the time to do something creative. This can be an exciting challenge to take on. If you’re interested in writing, music, art, entrepreneurship, or anything else creative, take some time today to give yourself extra time for it. Write that blog post you have been putting off, go play your new song at that local cafe, or try out that new recipe you’ve been wanting to experiment with for a while.
2. Support someone else’s creativity. Supporting the ecosystem of artists and creatives is a great way to contribute as well. Go to a local performance, see an off-broadway play, buy local crafts or handmade goods, or visit an art show in your area. You can even just share about local artists or musicians on your social media to give them more publicity.
3. Set a goal for a new creative skill to learn. Maybe you will try knitting, take up gardening, or start painting. Whatever you decide, choose something that will benefit you and be useful to you in the long run.
   

Grants to Fund Creative Projects and Programs

1. Firstly, grants are available to female artists for environmentally-focused art projects. Funding is for thought-provoking projects that benefit and engage the public. Applications are encouraged from artists of color, artists with disabilities, artists living outside of the East and West coasts, and LGBTQ+ artists.
2. Grants of up to $1,000 are also open to pre-K-12 teachers for projects that enhance education through art. Funding is to cover costs associated with visual art supplies and materials.
3. Funding of up to $10,000 is available to nonprofits for activities that perpetuate the art of poetry in American culture and expand awareness of the positive effects of poetry on society.
4. There is also funding for playwrights to produce new plays about technology, science, and math. Funding is also available to commission not-yet-written works. Previously commissioned works addressed nuclear fission, agrobiology, sign language, and cochlear implants.
5. In addition, grants are open to registered charities for programs that support artists who are in the early stages of their careers. Funding is for initiatives that provide mentorships, exposure, and apprenticeships to early-career artists.
6. Grants of up to $1,000 are also available to nonprofits and schools to support music education. Funding is to inspire middle school students by exposing them to professional musicians.
7. Fellowships are available to early mid-career artists and scholars for independent projects related to music and sound.
8. Grants of $1,500 are also available to individual artists to support art projects. Eligible art disciplines include visual arts and fine crafts. The purpose of this program is to help artists continue their work and undertake new projects. Additionally, funding is to increase public appreciation for the arts.
9. There are also grants to nonprofits and K-12 schools to equip music programs with musical instruments. The purpose of this program is to give children nationwide the opportunity to play high-quality stringed instruments.
10. Lastly, there are grants of up to $20,000 to filmmakers and nonprofit film companies to develop original documentary films.

GrantNews Notes:

Are you looking for more grants like the ones on our list? GrantWatch features an entire category for Arts and Culture grants, that you can go check out right now! There are thousands of current and ongoing grants for performing arts, visual arts, local music, and more. Find the perfect grants for your critical initiative or project!

Also, make sure to give your organization the gift of GrantWatch! Signing up for a paid subscription to GrantWatch will help you to gain access to resources to aid in your grant journey. Specifically, one of the tools that subscribers have access to is our exact keyword search function. This tool allows grant seekers to narrow down a grant search.