Houston’s abundance of funding and resources makes it an ideal place to be an artist. No matter your area of specialty, there’s always an organization or collective looking to help nurture the minds shaping the city’s creative future. Have a project idea in mind? Here’s a handful of funding opportunities for practicing artists: 

It’s no secret that one of the biggest challenges facing artists and innovative nonprofits is funding. For many, supplies, materials, and other expenses make it difficult to forge a focused career in the arts. No matter the discipline, Houston officials and arts organizations are working to provide more opportunities for creativity to thrive. Have a project idea in mind? Need funding to start a new body of work or a new initiative? Here’s our ongoing list of funding opportunities that may have flown under the radar. 

Artpace Open Call

Deadline: Sept. 30

San Antonio-based institution Artpace is seeking applicants for the 2024 international Artist-in-Residence program. The program hosts three artists, one from Texas alongside national and international candidates. Each artist receives a $6,000 living stipend, an apartment, a $10,000 production budget and studio space. For more information on the process and eligibility, visit here. 

Public Art at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church

Deadline: Aug. 1  

An outdoor memorial is needed on the grounds of St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Nassau Bay to commemorate African American contributions to the NASA space program. Chosen artist(s) will receive a $100,000 project budget to create a permanent installation. For more information on eligibility and requirements, visit here. 

Let Creativity Happen! - Grant

Deadline: Sept.1, Oct. 31

This grant is perhaps MOCA’s most popular and competitive, with applications accepted at multiple points a year. Similar to the city’s Initiative grant, it provides funding for artists and collective projects and 501(c)(3) organizations of all disciplines to steward creativity and innovation in the city. For more information on Let Creativity Happen! and other grant deadlines, visit here. 

FotoFest Meeting Place Portfolio Review

Deadline: Ongoing through October 

Over the course of three sessions taking place Sept. 25-Oct. 8, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, and Oct. 5-8, artists can meet with 150 art world professionals for FotoFest’s annual portfolio review. Get feedback on your work and network with fellow artists this fall. Registration is $1,150 and includes a series of 20-minute, one-on-one reviews, access to the 2022 FotoFest Biennial, a slot in the Unfiltered: Portfolio Walk and much more. For more information on registration, session and reviewers, visit here. 

Ongoing Opportunities 

The Space Taking Artist Residency 2022

Fresh Arts is one of Houston’s most prominent organizations creating and sharing opportunities for local artists. Funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Houston Arts Alliance, the Space Taking Artist Residency is a program designed to allow artists and collectives to experiment and engage new audiences. Two selected residents are provided with a $2,500 stipend, a 2800 square-foot gallery space, consultation services and more. For more information on project eligibility and application instructions, visit here. 

The Idea Fund 

Powered by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and administered by DiverseWorks, The Idea Fund is accepting applications for their 15th grant cycle. The local re-granting program supports the work of practicing artists in the Greater Houston Area, and will award 12 grants of $5,000 to individual artists and collectives. For more information on The Idea Fund, visit here. 

The Spark Fund

The Spark Fund provides 36 stipends of $50,000 to independent BIPOC filmmakers over the period of one year. Selected filmmakers must be working on a humanities-related project. The fund is underwritten by the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan #SHARP Grantmaking initiative. For more information, criteria and application instructions, visit here. 

Art League Houston: Exhibition Open Call 

Local, regional, national and international artists looking to exhibit their work in Houston are encouraged to submit proposals to the Art League Houston for consideration. ALH is awarding four artist stipends ranging from $450-$1900 to show new work with strong artistic quality and connections to timely dialogues in contemporary art. For more information on Art League Houston’s open call, visit here.