Art Works Grant

Created at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Forman Arts Initiative and the Philadelphia Foundation launched Art Works, a four-year $3 million grant initiative to support the robust and important work of locally based artists and organizations working in partnership with low-income, working-class, and communities of color across the city.

Since 2021, the program has supported the incredible work of 20 powerhouse organizations and 19 groundbreaking individuals enacting art and culture in dialogue with Philadelphia communities. With the completion of the fourth year of funding in 2024, we are pausing applications for the Art Works Grant program in 2025 to closely evaluate its impact to date and make a case for renewed and ongoing financial support. During this time, we will continue supporting our existing 39 grantees through opportunities for organizational capacity-building and professional development for artists.

Grants for Organizations

We look to support organizations which actively invite participation, provoke thought, and connect their passion with a community based purpose. If your organization uses the arts or culture to engage with or transform your communities, this grant program may be right for you. Over the next four years, four community-based organizations will be selected annually to receive two-year unrestricted grants. Awards will range from $50,000-$150,000. Grants can be used to support your organization’s mission, and we will choose organizations based on how closely your work aligns with Art Works’ programmatic goals.  

Steve Weinik

Grants for Artists

If you are a Philadelphia-based artist, who works for and with communities, you could be a great fit for the artist grants. Four Philadelphia-based artists will be selected annually to receive two-year grants of $25,000 per year. You can use the grants freely. Some of you may wish to use the grant to support new work development, while others may use it to pay for living or studio expenses.

Steve Weinik

Grants for Collectives

We are looking for artist collectives committed to incorporating community perspectives into their work. Collectives will receive between $50,000 and $150,000 depending on the scope of their work and their engagement with the community. We define collectives as three or more people working collaboratively under a common mission or goal without a 501(C)(3) status. 

Photo courtesy of Andrea "Philly" Walls

Lenfest Co-Ops

In addition to the grant funds, your organization will be offered the opportunity to work with co-operative education students from Drexel University to enhance organizational effectiveness with funds provided by FAI. Co-ops can come from any field of study at Drexel that would advance the needs of the grantees. From finance and accounting, IT and web design, to digital media, communications, business modeling, art, and design, among many other disciplines, Drexel’s diverse students bring fresh perspectives—along with an eagerness to help and learn—to their co-op positions.

Sheldon Abba

The application season for Art Works is closed at this time, to access the recording of the 2024 info session, click here.

Read more about the grant program here.