Exposure Artists Program

Sponsored by The Pittsburgh Foundation and Opportunity Fund, the Exposure Artists Program is guided by a shared belief in the need to support creative practice, to cultivate and fund diversity, and to advocate for racial justice in the arts community.

Exposure aims to elevate the work of artists through activities that create/generate/enhance visibility for the creative process, artwork and societal issues of our time.

A community Q&A session will provide prospective applicants an overview of the program, further explain eligibility criteria, and answer any questions that organizations have about the application process or program guidelines.

FUNDING STREAMS

Applicants may apply to one of the following funding streams per year. 

• Individual artists and collectives (up to seven grants):
  • Individual artists - Two-year grants of up to $20,000 (up to $10,000 each year for up to two years).
  • Collectives - Two-year grants of up to $35,000 (up to $17,500 each year for up to two years).
• Transformative justice (minimum of four grants):
  • Individual artists - Two-year grants of up to $20,000 (up to $10,000 each year for up to two years).
  • Collectives - Two-year grants of up to $35,000 (up to $17,500 each year for up to two years).
• First-time grantees (up to four, one-year grants up to $5,000).

ELIGIBILITY

• At least 18 years of age.
• Resident of Allegheny County. Collectives must be located within Allegheny County.
• Prospective applicants may apply to only one (1) funding stream per year.

For collectives: Members of a collective may also be eligible to apply as an individual artist. One collective may only submit one application as a collective.

For transformative justice applicants: Individuals and collectives identifying as BIPOC may apply.

For first-time grantee applicants: Grants for individual artists who have yet to receive any support exceeding a total of $2,500 from any arts grants program for the creation of work.

APPLICATION PROCESS 2023
 

HOW TO APPLY 

• Watch a recording of our Community Q&A session (held July 27).  

• Download grant program guidelines. 

• Download step-by-step instructions for creating a profile and applying. 

• Watch an instructional video for creating a profile and applying.

• Download grant application questions.

If you have more questions, please email us at arts [at] pghfdn.org (arts[at]pghfdn[dot]org). 

The application period for 2023 is now closed. 

Advisory Committee

The inaugural launch of this program and guidelines in 2021 were developed in collaboration with an advisory group comprised of Pittsburgh-based artists representing multiple disciplines, identities and lived experiences. The committee, along with direct input from grantees, informed the initial grant criteria, supplemental supports to be planned over the course of the grant period, and provided feedback on the progress of the first year of the program's grantmaking. We are grateful for this group's contribution to this program's inception and support in its beginning stages. The 2021 Exposure Advisory Committee included: Alisha Wormsley; Andres Franco; D.S. Kinsel; Mikael Owunna; Naomi Ruth Allen; Sarika Goulatia; and Staycee Pearl.   

About Past Awardees

In February of 2022, the first round of grants was announced, totaling $215,000. The 12 awards provide grants for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) artists working at the intersection of art and activism, and to artists who have never received any foundation funding before.  

Learn about Exposure awardees