Who is eligible to apply for a Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grant?

To be eligible for Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grant funding, you must answer “Yes” to the following:

• I am working in the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, social practice, performance,  photography, textiles, ceramics, cross-disciplinary, public art).

• I am a self-identified artist residing in the state of Oklahoma.

• I have lived in Oklahoma for the past 12 months (beginning in September 2019 or earlier).

• I am a practicing artist able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to my practice, career, and public audience. 

• I am experiencing financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• I am 18 years of age or older.

• I can provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). 

How does the Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grant define "practicing visual artist"?
Applicants must have an artistic practice that is primarily visual in focus and must have been active within the last 12 months.

I am not primarily paid for my artistic work, but have lost income through other employment or contract work. Can I still apply?
Yes; these funds are meant to support artists holistically and we recognize that those most affected by our present crisis are often un- or underpaid for their artistic work. Any lost income is cause to apply.

Are the Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grants replacing OVAC’s Artists Grants program?

No, OVAC’s Artists Grants are a separate entity from the emergency fund. For clarification or any questions, please email grants@ovac-ok.org.

How much funding is available and how much are the grants?

The Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grants will disperse $80,000 in emergency funding. A total of 80 grants of $1,000 each will be awarded.

What can the funds be used for?

Funding from the Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grant may be used for daily needs including, but not limited to: housing, utilities, groceries, child care, medical expenses, and lost wages/fees.

Selected recipients cannot use emergency funding for upcoming or planned art projects or materials. This grant is used to relieve the financial  strain of living costs affecting Oklahoma visual artists due to COVID-19. 

If you seek funding for an upcoming exhibition, event, or general art-making, please apply to one of OVAC Grants for Artists here.

What is required for the application?

As the recipients will be selected by a lottery system, the purpose of the application materials is to determine eligibility. You will be asked to describe your financial losses and provide proof that you are a practing artists. this proof can be a website, CV/Resume, social media, or other documentation. 

How will you select funding recipients? What are the selection criteria?

The above requirements and application information provided will be used to indicate eligibility. Recipients of the Oklahoma Visual Artists Emergency Grant are not selected by OVAC staff or volunteer jury. A lottery system will be utilized to ensure a fair and equitable selection process. If you have questions regarding this decision, please contact the OVAC office at grants@ovac-ok.org.

I applied for the first round but did not receive funding. Am I able to apply again?
All eligible applications from last round who were not previously awarded funding are automatically added to the pool for selection the following round. To check on the status of your previous application and make sure it's eligible, please email grants@ovac-ok.org.

If I receive funds in the first round of applications, may I apply again?
No. Given the overwhelming need in our region, we will be able to support 80 individuals/families in total. We encourage you to seek out additional support through other active funds if your need is greater than $1,000.

Timeline 

Round one

Emergency funding announced: September 15

Application opens: October 16

Application closes: November 17, 11:59 PM

Recipients notified by Submittable: November 20

W-9 and funding agreement returned to OVAC: November 23

Funding dispersed by: November 25

Round two

Emergency funding announced: September 15

Application opens: November 18

Application closes: December 14, 11:59 PM

Recipients notified by Submittable: December 19

W-9 and funding agreement returned to OVAC: December 21

Funding dispersed by: December 23

Privacy and other information

The information collected in this application is only used to indicate eligibility. Information will not be shared externally, and will not affect any other application submitted to the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC Artist Grants, sponsored exhibitions, etc.). Any questions regarding finances, demographics, and geographic information are not used to determine eligibility and are collected to help OVAC achieve equitable practices in future outreach and programming.

We recognize that artists’ needs will exceed our capacity to fund. OVAC is continuing to update and share information on other emergency grants that are accessible to Oklahoma artists. Please visit our Artist Relief page here to view other relief opportunities.