Grants for Artist Projects (GAP)

2025 GAP Timeline

April 18  Guidelines available.

May 16  Application opens.

May 20  Info Session.

June 10  Study Hall.

June 11 & 12  Office Hours.

June 23  Application closes.

July – August Panel review.

September  Board votes.

September  Notification of award status.

October  Public announcement.

Eligibility Information

APPLICANTS MUST ALSO BE:

• 18 years of age or older;
• Washington State residents at the time of both application and payment (payment will be made in October 2025);
• Individual artists (or artist teams): those who are the originators of works of art.

APPLICANTS MUST NOT BE:

• A recipient of a GAP from 2020–2024 (including recipients of Grants for Artists’ Progress);  
• Previous recipients of the James W. Ray Distinguished Artist or Arts Innovator Awards; 
• Recipients of another Artist Trust grant in the 2025 calendar year; 
• Current graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at the time of both the application and/or payment (payment will be made October 2025); 
• Applying on behalf of a company, nonprofit, organization, fiscal sponsorship, or community group; 
• Current Artist Trust staff, Board of Trustees, honorary committee, current GAP panelists, or their immediate family. 

2025 GAP FAQ

Please read this FAQ prior to contacting our staff with questions. Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to every question we receive. 

What happened to Grants for Artists’ Progress and what is different about 2024 GAP?

From 2021-2023, Grants for Artists’ Progress (GAP) was a three-year pilot with the goal to make strategic investments in artists from backgrounds and communities most deeply impacted by the pandemic, who have also historically received less funding and resources from Artist Trust. This included artists residing outside of King County and artists who identify as BIPOC.

With the success and completion of this 3-year pilot, we have shifted the name back to Grants for Artist Projects and have broadened GAP’s eligibility criteria with the ongoing goal of making strategic investments in BIPOC and rural communities across Washington State.

How were these changes made?

After the success and completion of our 3-year pilot, this change was made in response to feedback from our statewide artist community, Artist Trust’s Strategic Vision, Stewardship, and Racial Equity Committees, Board of Trustees, and staff. In Spring 2024, we also convened a focus group consisting of applicants, recipients, and panelists from across the State to get feedback on their experience and further refine the program. If you have feedback you would like to share to inform future GAP cycles or want more details about the results of our pilot, please email us at info@artisttrust.org. 

Are these changes permanent?

Why does Artist Trust use the term “BIPOC”?

Artist Trust recognizes that Black and Indigenous people experience more barriers and less opportunities than other people of color. We use the term BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to recognize this reality.

Throughout the GAP adjudication process, panelists will be asked to prioritize Black and Indigenous artists, as well as discuss marginalized identities within BIPOC communities.

How much money will I receive? 

GAPs are $1,500 each. 

How many artists are being funded? 

In 2025, 65 artists in total will be funded.

Can I apply as part of a collaboration or team?

A team of two or more artists may apply if you have a documented history of creating and presenting work as a team. Artists applying as a team must contact Artist Trust to confirm eligibility before applying. If eligible, one artist will submit the application and list team members. All team members must meet the eligibility requirements for the respective award. Applications made on behalf of a company, nonprofit, organization, community group, or a fiscally-sponsored entity will not be accepted.  

If I apply as part of team, how much money will we receive? 

The team will receive $1,500 total.   

When can I apply? 

The 2025 GAP application will be available online starting Friday, May 16, 2024. The application deadline is Friday, June 23, 2024, 11:59 PM PST.  

How do I apply? 

To apply, you must create a Submittable account and submit an application through Submittable. We will have a link to the application available here on Friday, May 17, 2024. Applications must be submitted through Submittable. Emailed or physical applications will not be reviewed.  

Do you accept late applications?

We do not accept late applications under any circumstances. 

Can I edit my application after I submit?

If you submit your application before the deadline, we are able to open your application for edits. You will be responsible for submitting your application after it’s opened for editing.  

However, after the deadline, applications cannot be edited. 

What materials do I need to include in my application? 

In your application in Submittable, be sure to include: A Discipline Statement (50 words or less), A Biography (150 words or less or up to 1.5 minutes of unedited audio/video), a Project Description (350 words or less or up to 3 minutes of unedited audio/video), 10 Work Samples, and a Progress Statement (150 words or less). 

Can I see examples of these materials? 

Yes! Examples of the materials can be viewed in the GAP Reference Guide. 

What’s the most important part of the 2025 GAP application?
Your work samples are the most important part of your application. Spend the most time honing your samples. If you are submitting images, audio, or video, make sure your documentation is high quality. An applicant can only submit up to 10 work samples (1 work sample means either: 1 image, 1 minute of video, 1 minute of audio, 1 page of manuscript). Be sure to follow the work sample guidelines on page 6 for a more in depth look at eligible work samples. 

 Additionally, your project statement is important and explains the who, what, when, where, and why of a project. It gives specific details about your vision, timeline, intentions, goals, and how this funding will support your work. A strong project description is clear and straightforward, cohesive with the work samples, and shows you know what it takes to complete your project. Projects selected for GAP funding vary in scope, size, and scale. They range from developing a series of poems to large-scale performances. You can find examples of projects supported by GAP in the reference guide.

Your other application materials, such as the biography and progress statement help panelists understand your vision, process, and philosophy and give context for the work in your work samples. Start on these parts early and have friends or colleagues read them. You can find examples of successful applications in our Reference Guide here. For tips and tricks on the written parts of your application, visit our Resources  here. 

I can’t decide on my career stage. Will that affect the panelists’ decisions?
Career stage is not part of the selection criteria for this award and does not have an impact on whether or not you are chosen for an award. 

Where can I find help with my application? 
We offer several support services and resources to help you with your application, including virtual Info Session, Office Hours and Study Hall, workshops, reference guides, and other resources. They are listed above in the 2025 GAP Timeline, and will have links to registration for each program. 

What do I do if I’m having technical difficulties with my grant application?
If you aren’t able to sign into Submittable, have questions about uploading or formatting files, or other technical questions, visit  https://help.submittable.com.  

How are the awards funded?

How are the awards selected?

All applications are reviewed by one multidisciplinary panel consisting of five artists from across the state with expertise in a range of artistic disciplines. Panelists review all eligible applications online through Submittable and meet over Zoom to discuss applications and recommend recipients. Panelists are required to review all applicants through a lens of racial equity, consider geographic diversity, and highlight a range of disciplines and practices.  

Artist Trust recognizes that Black and Indigenous people experience more barriers and less opportunities than other people of color. We use the term BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to acknowledge this reality. Throughout the process, panelists will be asked to prioritize Black and Indigenous artists, artists living in rural areas, and artists who identify as LGBTQIA+ by considering structural, institutional, and historical barriers artists face and how it can impact their career. 

What criteria does the panel use to nominate recipients? 

The 2025 GAP criteria are: 

• Artistic excellence; 
• Clarity of vision and project; 
• The potential progress and impact the award would have on the artist’s life; 

How does racial equity impact the selection of awardees?
We have a strong commitment to racial equity throughout our organization. Within our award programs, we ask selection panelists to review all applications through a lens of racial equity. This means when a panelist is considering an applicant, we ask them to be mindful of structural, institutional, and historical barriers artists of color face and how those barriers may impact their work and their career. Additionally, panelists are encouraged to have an intersectional approach and to highlight a range of disciplines and practices as well as discuss marginalized identities within BIPOC communities. 

Read more about our work towards racial equity here. 

If you have questions not addressed in this FAQ, please be in touch with our Program Director, Lydia Boss at lydia@artisttrust.org.