2024 Populus Fund | Project Grants

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ABOUT POPULUS FUND

Founded in 2020, Populus Fund is a regranting initiative organized by The Union, through the generous support of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in order to support innovative artist projects regionally. We will fund projects that are catalytic, address community needs, and exemplify new ways of working in, for, and with the public. 

In 2024, Populus Fund will award a total of six $10,000 projects proposed by artists or artist groups working outside established institutions. 


 

PROJECT CRITERIA  
 In 2024, Populus Fund seeks to fund artist-organized projects that offer opportunities for artists to use their skills to provide experiences, content, materials, activities, platforms, etc that engage and connect with the community through art. 

Populus Fund grant recipients will receive funding for projects that promote collaboration with the public and are radically accessible. Funds can be used for the research, development or creation of public-facing new work, a project or performance. Public engagement can occur via process, presentation, production, or publication. This may include exhibitions, performances, events, lectures, workshops, screenings, readings, publications, residencies, programming at artist-run-spaces, online projects, etc. 

Populus Fund's aim is to expand the financial support for artist-led projects in our region. Projects in partnership with funded organizations, art museums or commercial galleries that have their own operating and programming budgets or a capacity to fundraise for their own projects will not be considered for funding. However, we do accept projects that work in partnership with DIY, underfunded, or self-funded arts and community organizing. Please reach out to us if you have questions about an institutional partner on your project.

Projects that support inclusion, diversity, equity, and access are strongly encouraged. Projects that engage the public must prioritize the health and safety of participants. Applicants should identify any safety protocols if necessary. 


 

ELIGIBILITY
 

To be eligible to receive a Populus Fund grant, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be 18 or older 
  • Reside in the eligible Nebraska/Iowa counties listed HERE
  • Applicant can provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) once selected to receive an award; 
  • Applicants must be visual artists, curators, collectives, cultural organizers,  collaborations, or artists with a history of presenting their work in visual arts contexts/venues
  • Performance, dance, film, text, sound, or any artist that works outside of a traditional visual arts practice is eligible to apply as long as their project proposal has visual arts as a driving force. 


 

Ineligible to apply:

  • 501c3 organizations and LLCs established for commercial enterprise are not eligible
  • Applicant is not a staff, board, or immediate family member of The Union for Contemporary Art 
  • 2022 & 2023 Populus Fund Project Grant Awardees 



TIMELINE
 



SELECTION CRITERIA
 Union staff will remain neutral in the selection process. We will have a short vetting process to ensure our selected awardees meet our eligibility criteria. Awardees will be selected by a rotating panel of artists and arts professionals which will always entail:

  • an artist, arts professional, or community organizer from out of state, 
  • an arts professional engaged with another Regional Regranting program,
  • a previous grantee 



QUESTIONS + ACCESSIBILITY
 Curious about something that is not answered above or on the FAQ page? Drop us a question at populusfund@u-ca.org.


 Please reach out to The Union team if you have any questions about eligibility or would like assistance reading or filling out your application at populusfund@u-ca.org.

 

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