Programs

Creation &
Development
Fund

Photo: Leyla McCalla, credit: Greg Miles

Photo: Leyla McCalla, credit: Greg Miles

The Creation & Development Fund supports the creation, development and mobility of new artistic work that advances racial and cultural justice and results in live experiential exchange between artists and community.

The fund provides a framework for relationships to develop, over time, among diverse artists, arts organizations, and communities. Through the investment of commissioning funds from arts organizations and NPN direct subsidies, each project is eligible for multi-level support.

Phase I:
Creation

Relationships are central to the Creation Fund, which supports new work in early stages.

  • Artists apply for the Creation Fund with a team consisting of at least two arts organizations (co-commissioners) led by a NPN National Partner.

  • Each commissioner contributes a $2,000–$3,000 cash match and agrees to present the work once it has been created.

  • NPN matches these funds so that every Creation Fund artist receives a minimum of $12,000 of project funding.

The structure of the Creation Fund increases organizations’ capacities to commission work, deepens relationships, and is a tool for leveraging other local and national funding.

Continue to Phase II

Phase II:
Development

Twice a year, NPN invites artists who have received Creation Fund support to apply for additional development support. Development Funds are artist-driven:

Artists may apply for up to $10,000 for team-based projects with a commissioner (or other collaborator) of their choosing.

or

Artists may apply for individual artist support, up to $5,000.

Development Funds can be used for a variety of needs when developing a work for public engagement.

Continue to Phase III

Phase III:
Mobility

Once a work is developed, co-commissioners are required to support artists through a public engagement of the new work, focused on exchange between artists and communities.

NPN offers access to (but does not guarantee) Artist Engagement Funds for NPN National Partners to support artist fees for Phase III.

Upcoming Deadlines
Phase I: Creation Fund
Spring 2023 Deadline: May 22, 2023
For projects premiering* between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2026
Applications will become available December 2022.
*Note: NPN recognizes that timelines may shift and will acknowledge “premieres” as any type of public engagement, whether online, virtual, or hybrid, large or small scale.
Phase II: Development Fund
Spring 2023 Deadline: March 31, 2023
Fall 2023 Deadline: September 22, 2023
For awarded Creation Fund Projects
Guidelines and Template Project Timeline & Budget
View recent awards

2020 Impact

$523,500

Direct Subsidies

$1.6 million

Funds Leveraged

48

Projects

76%

Artists of Color
Staff Contact

Alec De León (he/him)
Program Specialist –
National Programs
alec@npnweb.org
504.595.8008 ext 709

Credit language and logos for grantees