Grant Guidelines

• Applicants must live in the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s 34-town service area (SEE MAP).  

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. 

• Must be an artist actively pursuing their artistic practice as a profession. 

• Definition: For the purposes of this grant, this means individuals who devote a significant portion of their time to the creation of personal artwork. The artist is likely paid for performances, sells their artwork, or shares their independent body of work with the public on a regular basis. The term “artist” applies broadly across artistic disciplines. 

• Artists may be emerging, mid-career, or established. 

• Artists do NOT need to earn their primary income from their art to be eligible. 

• This grant is intended to support artists pursuing their work professionally and is not intended to support recreational or hobby-based artmaking.  

• Application Deadline: October 2, 2026 

• Award notifications and contracts: November/December 2026 

• Grant Period: January 1, 2027 – June 30, 2027 

• Final Reports Due: July 2027 

Grants of UP TO $2,500 will be awarded.

Maximum grant amounts of $2,500 are not guaranteed. Award amounts will be based on the proposed use of the funds, review criteria, budget, and available funding. 

Creative Practice

• Equipment and specialized tools  

• Studio upgrades  

• Technology and software  

• Access to specialized facilities or equipment  

• Professional development related to artistic practice  

Creative Business

• Website development  

• Branding and graphic design  

• Photography and videography  

• Marketing and promotional materials  

• Business or career coaching  

• Business incubator programs  

• Professional software and online platforms  

Career Advancement

• Workshops, conferences, and training  

• Professional consultations  

• Career coaching  

• Opportunities that expand professional networks or market access  

All expenses must represent a specific investment that will advance the artist's creative practice, career, or creative business.

All funds must be spent by June 30, 2027.

If you're unsure whether an expense is eligible, applicants are encouraged to contact the Greater Hartford Arts Council before applying. 

Not eligible 

• Routine operating expenses  

• General supplies or consumable materials for artmaking 

• Examples: paint, canvas, paper, clay, fabric, reeds, instrument strings, etc. 

• Costs incurred before the grant period  

• Funding can only be used during the Grant Period: January 1, 2027 – June 30, 2027. No exceptions will be made to cover expenses incurred before or after these dates.  

• Degree-program tuition  

• Salaries or staffing  

• Food and hospitality  

• Medical expenses  

• Debt or other unrelated expenses  

If you're unsure whether an expense is eligible, applicants are encouraged to contact the Greater Hartford Arts Council before applying. 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of community reviewers and GHAC board members. The panel will evaluate applications based on the following criteria: 

Strength of the proposed investment  

• Tell us what you plan to purchase, enroll in, or invest in, and why this particular investment is important to your work. We encourage applicants to explain why this is the right investment for where they are in their career right now. 

Potential for impact  

• We want to understand what the grant will make possible for you. The impact does not need to be large or immediate. A small investment that removes a barrier, creates a new opportunity, or helps you work more independently can be just as meaningful. 

Clarity and feasibility  

• We want to understand what you plan to do, what it will cost, and when you expect to do it. Your budget should reflect actual or researched costs. 

Connection to the artist's creative practice and career development  

• Advancing Artist Grants are intended to support artists who are actively developing their practices and careers. We want to understand how this particular investment will take your work to the next level. 

• We are interested in understanding where you are now, where you are headed, and how this investment can help you take the next step. 

Panelists will make funding recommendations to the GHAC Board of Directors based on the published criteria. Final award amounts will be determined based on the strength of applications and available funding. 

Applicants will be notified if they received or did not receive a grant.

Grant recipients will be required to sign a grant contract in order to receive payment. Contracts will outline details on grant requirements, deadlines and expectations.

All grant recipients will be required to submit a final report within 30 days of the grant period end date
Grant period end date: June 30, 2027
Final reports due: July 30, 2027

Final reports will include

• Recap of how the funds were used

• Growth you have seen in your career

• Growth you hope to see because of this grant

• Final budget

Receipts, invoices, and other proof of expenses may be required and can be requested by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

GHAC staff may follow up with grant recipients in the future to see how the funding impacted them and their career over time.

Tiana Correa, Community Impact Manager: tcorrea@letsgoarts.org