Franklin Furnace, Franklin Furnace Fights for First Amendment Rights, 07/11/1990, benefit mailer.
The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art
2025-26 FUND cycle opens January, 2025
About
Initiated in 1985 with the support of Jerome Foundation, Franklin Furnace annually awards grants to early career artists selected by peer panel review to enable them to produce major performance art works in New York City.
The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art is supported by Jerome Foundation, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and biennially by the SHS Foundation in honor of Ruth Hardinger. FUND grants range between $2,000 and $10,000 based on the peer review panel allocation of funding received by Franklin Furnace. Artists from all areas of the world are encouraged to apply; however, artists selected by the panel are expected to present their work in New York City. Full-time students are ineligible.
Franklin Furnace has no curator; each year a new panel of artists reviews all proposals. We believe this peer panel system allows all kinds of artists from all over the world an equal shot at presenting their work. Every year the panel changes, as do the definitions of “early career artist” and “performance art.” So if at first you don’t succeed, please try again.
Since 1985, the FUND has helped launch the careers of Jo Andres, Tanya Barfield, Jibz Cameron aka Dynasty Handbag, Lenora Champagne, Patty Chang, Papo Colo, Brody Condon, Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles, Ayana Evans, Karen Finley, John Fleck, Coco Fusco, Kate Gilmore, Pablo Helguera, Donna Henes, Murray Hill, Holly Hughes, Liz Magic Laser, Shaun Leonardo, Taylor Mac, Robbie McCauley, Jennifer Miller, Naeem Mohaiemen, Rashaad Newsome, Clifford Owens, Pope.L, Dread Scott, Pamela Sneed, Fiona Templeton and Diane Torr, among other Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art recipients.
Application Guidelines
How to Apply
You may apply once per year as an individual, and once per year as part of a collaborative.
1. Read the FUND Guidelines thoroughly.
2. Ensure you meet eligibility requirements.
3. Find more information of the application through our online information session.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed, create/sign in to your Submittable account.
Entered information can be saved so that your application may be completed in multiple sessions before final submission.
5. Prepare and complete ALL application requirements.
6. Once the application is complete, click the ‘Apply Now’ button.
A confirmation email will be sent once your application is successfully submitted.
Eligible Artists
Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art supported artists are early career generative non-student performance artists who actively generate new original work.
Eligible artists and collectives must meet all of the descriptors listed below.
Please note: these requirements have been adapted from Jerome Foundation’s eligibility requirements and Definition of Early Career Artist.
| Eligible | Ineligible | |
|---|---|---|
| Career Status | Early career performance artists who have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, funding circles, or the public at large and are in the early stages of their creative development. | Mid- / late- career OR established in any arts discipline. |
| Student Status | Are NOT participating in any degree granting programs in any field including k-12, undergraduate, or graduate programs. | Are or will be students enrolled in degree-granting programs during the grant period. |
| Vocation Status | Vocational Artists focused on generating new artwork. | Academic, amateur, educational, avocational, or hobby artists or managers administrators, builders, or technicians without a history of generating new artwork. |
| Authorship Status | Artists who actively generate new work and claim creative authorship and creative control in the creation of new work. | Artists who Interpret, perform, critique, report on, edit, or design the work of others (e.g., singers, musicians, screenwriters, dancers, actors, instrumentalists, vocalists, arrangers, editors, journalists, designers in sets/lights/costumes /sound, or critics) but do not generate new work. |
Join us for an Info Session for the Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art and to find out about the components of a well-prepared application, all prospective applicants are highly encouraged to register and attend our online information session.
Past FUND recipient and panelist Amy Khoshbin joined us to discuss the application process. This event was moderated by Franklin Furnace staff and followed by a Q&A session.
Applicant Timeline
