Applicant Resources

Selected RISCA grants applications are being migrated to a new online grants management system called Euna Grant Application Portal. For this grants cycle, the following grants will use the Euna Portal, and they are:

• Arts and Health Grant
• Project Grants in Education
• Project Grants for Organizations

Grant applications for the following grants will use the portal (called Foundant):

• Individual Artists
• Folk and Traditional Artists

Applications for the Arts and Health Grants – Incubator will use the following portal (called Foundant):

• Arts and Health Incubator Grant.

If you visit our website, you’ll find links to our applications in the following places: 

• Embedded in respective grant guidelines.
• On the right panel of each grant program's page.
• In the box on the left side of Our Grants page.

To set up a profile for an application, you will need to log in to the related grant portal as listed above. 

Feel free to reach out to our grants manager for the program you are interested in pursuing if you have questions regarding the new online grants application system. The contact information is as follows:

• Arts and Health program: Anisa Raoof.
• Project Grants in Education: Seamus Hames.
• Project Grants for Organizations: Sara Leonard.

What if I do not have access to a computer? 

Check in with your local library where computers are readily available. If not available, a librarian can help you find a location.

Do you offer grant application support? 

We provide several grant support options, from one-on-one meetings to grant workshops (in-person and online) to drop-in hours for last-minute application support. Information about them can be found on each individual grant page. We also have pre-recorded grant workshops from past cycles and other helpful videos on our YouTube Channel.

We recommend reaching out to the program director early for the grant program you are interested in applying if you want to meet one-on-one. Staff listing.

If I have a disability or are not comfortable writing or communicating in English, may I request accommodations?

No qualified individual, based on disability, shall be excluded. For questions on accommodations, contact Seamus Hames, Arts Education Program Director and 504 Accessibility Coordinator, at 401-222-6994 or seamus.hames@arts.ri.gov. 

Note: Both RISCA’s website and our online grant system, Foundant, offer translation of the entire sites.

How can I get assistance with the budget form? 

Our grants directors offer help sessions for making a budget. If you need assistance set up an appointment. Our YouTube channel has a helpful video about budgeting.

Grant funds can be spent on:

• Paying artists and arts administrators for their time.
• Space rental.
• Purchasing supplies.
• Marketing.

Due to the rules and regulations around our funding, grantees can never spend funding on:

• Capital improvement projects, like the construction or renovation of buildings or major permanent equipment purchases.
• Addressing, eliminating, or reducing existing debt or for contributions to an endowment fund.
• Development or fundraising, such as social events or benefits or any fundraising expenses.
• Entertainment and hospitality, including expenses for activities such as receptions, parties, galas, etc. Specific costs that have a core programmatic purpose and are included in your budget may be allowable.
• Prizes and awards for an event, person, and/or organization.
• Regranting the funds to other artists or organizations through an application or award process.
• Activities that are associated with a graduate or undergraduate degree program or for which academic credit is received.
• Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities, or which take place as part of a religious service.
• Programming, performances, and exhibitions unavailable and/or inaccessible to the public. This includes programming that occurs in a space that does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Expenses incurred or activity happening outside of the award period. 

A grant is a financial award given for a specific purpose, usually through an application process. The money is awarded by a funding organization — such as a government agency, a private foundation, a corporation, or a university or research facility— to support a specific project, organization, cause, or purpose. Grants are not loans, and do not need to be paid back, but they do have certain guidelines about when and how the funds can and can’t be used.

To get a grant, an entity could be an individual, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, a school, etc. and must meet certain eligibility requirements and submit an application. If you or your organization receives a grant, you must use the money for the purpose you applied for and follow the rules and guidelines set by the funder organization. It is important to note that most grant award money is taxable income for individuals.

How Grants Work

• Find a grant that fits your needs. Pay special attention to the grant’s eligibility criteria —such as geographic limitations, the type of entity the grant is for what the grant does and does not fund, funding rules and restrictions, and deadlines.
• To apply for a grant, you must submit an application that includes a proposal explaining who you are, your project, its goals, how much money you need, and how you’ll spend the money. This may include a plan for your project, a budget, a timeline, biographical information, and details about who is involved. The application is the best opportunity for you to show who you are and why you deserve the award, so be thorough, thoughtful, and attentive. 
• Once the application is submitted, the funder organization will review it. They look at whether the project is a good fit for their goals and if it’s likely to succeed. Be aware of decision timelines and when the funds are awarded- it often takes a significant amount of time to process grant applications and receive payments.
• After you receive the grant, you must spend the money on what you said you would in your application and within the specified time frame. Some grants require regular updates or a final report to show how you’re using the money and what progress you’ve made. This helps ensure the money is spent properly. 

What is an Artist Statement?

An artist statement describes the “why” and the “how” of your creative process. The statement may address your body of work, a collection of work, or speak to a specific piece of art. It gives the audience context about the artist, their inspiration, the artwork, and/or the process.

Why is an Artist Statement important?

An artist statement is helpful to your audience, allowing them into the thoughts behind your work. In a way, an artist statement can teach an audience member how to look at or engage with your work.

How to Write Your Own Artist or Mission Statement Resources:

• The Whats and Whys of writing a mission or artist statement - Columbia College of Chicago
• Artist Statement Samples - The Art League
• How to Write a Mission / Artist Statement - The Field
• How do I write successfully about my art practice? - School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• About Artist Statements - Rhode Island School of Art and Design
• The Do’s and Do Not’s of Writing an Artist Statement - New York Foundation for the Arts
• Get Started (Writing Template) - Art South Asia Project
• Writing a Statement as a Musician - Tanya Kalmanovitch