Grants for Artists’ Progress (GAP)

2023 GAP Timeline

April 17  Guidelines available.

May 15  Application opens.

June 1  Study Hall.

June 8 & 9  Office Hours.

June 23  Application closes.

July – August Panel review.

September  Board votes.

Early October  Notification of award status.

October  Public announcement.

Eligibility Information

The 2023 GAP are open to artists residing in Washington State working in all disciplines.

APPLICANTS MUST BE EITHER OR BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:

• BIPOC (Alaskan Native, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander or Hawaiian, Black/African/African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Native American or Indigenous, or South Asian)
• Residing outside of King County

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 the October 2023);
• Individual artists (or artist teams): those who are the originators of works of art.

APPLICANTS MUST NOT BE:

• A recipient of an AT GAP or Fellowship from 2018–2022
• Previous recipients of the James W. Ray Distinguished Artist or Arts Innovator Awards;
• Recipients of another Artist Trust grant in the 2023 calendar year;
• Current graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at the time of both application and/or payment (payment will be made October 2023);
• Applying on behalf of a company, nonprofit, organization, fiscal sponsorship, or community group;
• Current AT staff, Board of Trustees, honorary committee, consultants, contractors, current GAP panelists, or their immediate family.

2023 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. If your question is not covered in this FAQ, please contact Program Manager Grace Nakahara at grace@artisttrust.org. 

What’s changed? 

2023 Grants for Artists’ Progress (GAP) are unrestricted project-based grants of $1,500 for artists working in all disciplines across Washington State who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and/or residing outside King County.

Why were these changes made?

This current iteration of GAP is 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 includes artists residing outside of King County and artists who identify as BIPOC. If you do not currently fit the scope of this year’s GAP, we welcome you to take a look at our other funding programs and opportunities. If you have feedback you would like to share to inform future GAP cycles, email info@artisttrust.org. 

How were these changes made? 

2021, 2022, & 2023 Grants for Artists’ Progress was created in response to feedback from our statewide artist community, in collaboration with national and statewide partners, Artist Trust’s Strategic Vision, Stewardship, and Racial Equity Committees, Board of Trustees, and staff. We also convened focus groups consisting of artists of all disciplines from across the State to further refine the program.  

Are these changes permanent?

Which region do I live in? 

The map of Washington State regions can be found on page 5 of the 2023 GAP Guidelines will have updated information and will be available April 17. If you’re not sure which county you live in, click here.     

Am I eligible for the 2023 GAP from Artist Trust?

The 2023 GAP are open to artists of all disciplines and career stages who are either or both of the following:

• BIPOC (Alaskan Native, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander or Hawaiian, Black/African/African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Native American or Indigenous, or South Asian)
• Residing outside of King County

Applicants must also be:

• 18 years of age or older;
•  Washington State residents at the time of application and payment;
• Individual artists (or artist teams) who are the originators of works of art. 

Applicants must not be:

• A recipient of a GAP from 2018–2022;
• Previous recipients of the James W. Ray Distinguished Artist or Arts Innovator Awards;
• Recipients of another Artist Trust grant in the 2023 calendar year
• Current graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at the time of both the application and/or payment (payment will be made October 2023)
• 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. 

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 2023 GAP adjudication process, panelists will be asked to prioritize Black and Indigenous artists, as well as discuss marginalized identities within BIPOC communities.

What if I don’t have a project proposal?

For the 2023 GAP, you are required to apply with a project proposal. Funded projects can vary in scope and size. You are not required to provide a budget or to report back to Artist Trust. Examples can be found in the 2023 Reference Guide.  You can also register for How to Write a Project Proposal, a free virtual workshop taking place on May 25, hosted by Co-Director Luther Hughes who will talk through the basics of crafting a successful project proposal.

How much money will I receive? 

GAPs are $1,500 each. 

How many artists are being funded? 

65 artists in total will be funded, consisting of 10 artists from West, North Central, South Central, and East, Puget Sound (residing outside King County), and 15 BIPOC artists residing in King County.

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 2023 GAP application will be available online starting Monday, May 15, 2023. The application deadline is Friday, June 23, 2023, 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 Monday, May 15, 2023. 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 2023 GAP Reference Guide. 

What’s the most important part of the 2023 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 Office Hours and Study Hall, workshops, reference guides, and other resources. They are listed above in the 2023 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?

2023 GAP is made possible thanks to private funding through Artist Trust’s community of donors. No public funds are used towards this program. 

How are the awards selected?
Applications are reviewed by one multidisciplinary panel of working artists from across the state. The panel will consist of one artist from the West, Puget Sound, North Central, South Central, and East part of the State. Panelists review all eligible applicants online through Submittable and meet via Zoom to discuss applications and recommend recipients. 10 recipients from West, North Central, South Central, East, and Puget Sound (outside of King County), and 15 BIPOC recipients within King County will be nominated by the panel. Panelists are required to review applicants through a lens of racial equity and are encouraged to highlight a range of disciplines, practices, and career stages. 

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 2023 GAP adjudication process, panelists will be asked to prioritize Black and Indigenous artists, as well as discuss marginalized identities within BIPOC communities.  

What criteria does the panel use to nominate recipients? 

The 2023 GAP criteria are: 

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

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.