VISION:

Rocket Grants provide opportunities for Kansas City area artists to make and share experimental work and ideas in public spaces around the region - by providing direct support for fresh, inventive, artist-driven, and artist-centered projects. These grants receive funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and are developed and implemented though a partnership between the Charlotte Street Foundation in Kansas City, MO and the Spencer Museum of Art, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.

Rocket Grants fund projects that:

• happen in surprising places
• are visually engaging, and involve any media or practices, singly or combined
• challenge mainstream methods of thinking, making or presenting
• add energy and diversity to the arts in our region
• encourage the development of new kinds of audiences

The proposed work may address and provide creative growth for either of two audiences:

1. Other regional artists, in venues appropriate for the work;
2. The general public in specific communities, large or small. These projects MUST happen in carefully chosen public venues – ones that are designed to introduce new and surprising experiences to this chosen audience in a compelling and meaningful way. Established arts institutions, venues or districts are excluded in almost every circumstance.

Artists, curators, collectives, collaborative groups, partnerships, and artist-run spaces residing within an 80-mile radius of the Kansas City metropolitan area are eligible to apply. Awarded artists should remain resident for the entire period of their award. See map at: http://wp.me/PY46T-Lg

Rocket Grants are specifically not available for non-profit, 501c3 organizations, or for current or recently graduated students.

Proposals that bridge geographic or cultural communities are strongly encouraged.

The Rocket Grants program for 2017-18 will provide grants in the amount of $60,000 total. These will include:  

• Full Project Awards: Cash grants of up to $6,000 each, to area artists, performers, curators, and writers - as individuals or groups - to support the creation and presentation of new work/projects with a strong visual component. Artists with ongoing projects or practices are welcome to apply, providing the application proposes significant evolution or adaptation that will open up new directions in the work – even if for only one year.
• Research & Development Awards: Cash grants of $2,000 each to support research and development for ambitious new projects that require a longer period of planning. The selection panel may also award this grant to proposals that they find to be compelling, but which seem to require more development and/or funding.
• Completion of previously selected R & D Awards: Cash grants of $4,000. Any individual or group receiving the Research & Development Award, and completing their work in a timely and exciting manner, may request an additional $4,000 the following year in order to implement/complete/extend their project.

Applicants will be considered for both levels of funding, unless they elect not to be considered for the smaller award. The selection panel will ultimately determine which level of grant is awarded, based on their assessment of the project’s needs and merits.

Supported projects may include visual art, performance, film screenings, video, new media, writing, public programming, social practice and interdisciplinary projects. Performing artists and writers are eligible to apply, but all work should include a compelling visual component, and performers/authors are encouraged to form collaborations with visual artists to achieve this end.

TIMELINE FOR ROCKET GRANTS 2017-2018:

Monday, January 16, 2017 –Applications open via http://www.callforentry.org
Monday, March 27, 2017 – Applications close online, at 11.59 PM CST
Friday, May 19, 2017 – Artists’ presentations at Selection Panel meeting in Kansas City*
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 – Award recipients notified
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – Public Announcement of 2016 Awards
Thursday, June 8, 2017, 7.00 PM – Awards gathering, funds released
Friday, June 8, 2018 – All projects must be complete

* If you progress to the final round of the selection process, ALL individual artists, or AT LEAST ONE TEAM MEMBER (maximum 2) of each artist group, MUST be present at the Selection Panel meeting, in Kansas City on May 19. You will be asked to give a 5-minute illustrated presentation of your proposal with a 5-minute question and answer period immediately following. Selected artists and teams will be notified on Monday April 24 if they will be required to present their application materials to the Selection Panel on Friday May 19. Please hold this date open (9 AM-3 PM). More details will be supplied if you are selected.

For a complete description of funding priorities, eligibility criteria, selection process, artist responsibilities, application instructions, FAQs, application tips, budget forms and budget instructions, please visit http://rocketgrants.org/apply-2/.

You are strongly encouraged to view work by previous award winners on the Rocket Grants website https://rocketgrants.org/rocket-grants-projects/ to make sure that your idea is a good fit for this opportunity.

You will also find information on this website about outreach sessions. These will help you find answers to questions you may have about your application.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria