2025-2026 Artist Grant

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2025-2026 ARTIST GRANT GUIDELINES

 

 DEADLINE: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST

The Norman Arts Council announces the second round of 2025-2026 Artist Grant Applications.  This fund is designed to benefit artists of demonstrated merit and ability, providing the opportunity and freedom to pursue community, creativity & educational artistic endeavors.  

Artists identifying with an ethnic, cultural, sexual, gender, economic, or ability minority are encouraged to apply. Artists must live in Norman, OK.  Artists may apply in all three Artist Grant categories (Community Project Grant, Artistic Creative Grant & Artistic Education/Travel Grant).  Artists will be eligible to receive only one grant per calendar year.

 

CATEGORIES

The proposed project must fit one of the following categories:

Community Project Category:   provides an artist the opportunity to initiate a community-based project that leads to artistic creation in Norman. Evaluation is based on quality, the community impact in Norman, the community outreach elements, and your overall concept. 

Artistic Creative Project Category: is a creation of new work. Evaluation is based on the quality of the creative opportunity, career-building potential, and overall concept. The funds may be used for travel.

Artistic Education/Travel Grant Category:  allows the artist applying to attend conferences, residences, or workshops that provide education & enhance artistic skills. Evaluation is based on the quality of creative opportunity, career-building potential, and overall concept. The funds may be used for travel.

The selection committee’s goal is to choose one recipient in each category, as well as the overall highest-scoring applicant; however, final award decisions are at the discretion of the Programs Committee.

 

 SELECTION CRITERIA

Applications for the award will be reviewed by a selection committee of the Norman Arts Council according to the policies of the NAC, considering the following criteria:

  • Artistic excellence, originality, and ability to produce a consistent body of work as evidenced by representation of past work in images and other supporting materials.
  • Thoughtful proposed use of funds.
  • Ability to be a good representative of the Norman community during projects.  

 ELIGIBILITY 

Artists must:

  • Have resided in Norman, OK, for at least the past 12 months
  • Submit a completed application by June 3, 2026 at 11:59 pm via this website
  • Be over the age of 18

The project must:

  • Community engagement projects must take place in Norman, OK 
  • Include a community outreach element  

APPLICATION

 Submissions must be submitted electronically via this form. Paper submissions will not be accepted. 

Application must include: 

  • Electronic Application
  • Artist Bio
  • CV - Emphasize your past exhibition and project experience
  • Grant Proposal Narrative– Including: 

         a.  The purpose of your project & elaborate on how it supports the category or categories selected

         b.  How it will support your work as an artist

         c.  Desired outcomes of the artistic experience and/or the project

         d. How this project engages or benefits the Norman community

  • Project Budget – Please be as detailed as possible, noting the use of the Grant funds along with any other funds your project will require. The budget must include:     
  1.  Expenses - itemized and with notes if necessary   
  2. Income – include the Grant along with details of any other funds and their sources.                                        Matching funds are not required
  3. “In-kind” donations should also be noted as offsetting income
  • Work Samples - Include a minimum of FIVE (5) and a maximum of TEN (10) recent (nothing more than 5 years old) samples of your work, that represent your work Samples may be images, audio files, video files, or presentation files
  • Work Sample ID Sheet - Include Title, year, medium, and brief description for each sample.
  • Additional Support Materials - You may include additional materials that you feel will help support your application, including letters of recommendation.

*For questions, please reach out to the Norman Arts Council at cher@normanarts.org at least 48 hours before the application deadline. 

***The Norman Arts Council reserves the right to withhold any awards based on the lack of qualified proposals.

Award Recipient Requirements 

  • Complete a Final Report within 60 days of the completion of the project.
  • All Grant Recipients will create a final community presentation discussing the outcomes of their project. This will be scheduled with the NAC, the date to be determined. 
  • Return the signed Contract/Cash Request to the NAC, agreeing that the award will be used strictly for the purposes outlined in the Project Narrative.
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