Artist as Activist

Program Overview

Artist as Activist provides game-changing resources to artists (of all disciplines – visual, performing, media, and beyond), designers, and other creative professionals who are addressing important global challenges through their creative practice. In years past this support has included a commissioned print edition to benefit a particular cause or organization. Today the Artist as Activist program is comprised of three distinct grant opportunities:

• Artist as Activist Fellows: artists and legally established art collectives with a demonstrated commitment to applying their creative work to the public sphere will receive up to $100,000 over two years, along with a suite of value-added support. Fellows will be selected through an open call for proposals.
• Artist as Activist Travel & Research Grants: a separate pool of funds has been reserved for similar artists seeking support (ranging from $2,500 to $10,000) to travel or conduct research related to this aspect of their work. Travel/Research grantees will be selected through an open call for proposals.
• Artist as Activist Organizations: Ten organizations from across the U.S. that have been exemplars in supporting artists working at the intersection of art and change will receive general operating support. These organizational grants are by invitation only. 

Program Values and Beliefs

Consistent with our commitment to upholding the legacy of our founder, Robert Rauschenberg, all of RRF’s philanthropy programs operate with a set of core values that embody his work as both an artist and a philanthropist. These values include experimentation, fearlessness, and pushing boundaries. Rauschenberg also sought to learn from other cultures, and to share his own knowledge in exchange for what he learned. The Artist as Activist program retains this approach with a particular focus on:

• Creative problem-solving and solutions orientation – looking at an issue in new ways that actually shift its paradigm.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration – experience and enthusiasm for working with people who have a variety of expertise, experience, and training, as well as those whose beliefs, values, and norms differ from your own.
• Risk-taking – an ability to move outside of the status quo; comfort with uncertainty, improvisation, and/or iteration in the context of continuous learning.

How to Apply

All eligible applicants are invited to apply for only one of these grant opportunities. Please consult the Apply Now page to review the appropriate Grant Guidelines and Online Application Instructions to prepare your letter of interest.