2024-25 Art is the Solution Grant Program

The "Art is the Solution" grant program for 2024-25, offered by the Santa Fe Arts Commission, encourages artists to explore how art can provide solutions to various challenges, whether personal, societal, environmental, or otherwise. This open theme aligns with the Commission's mission to enrich the city's experience and understanding for both residents and visitors through public engagement with art. The program also specifically encourages applications from artists working in Crafts and Folk Art traditions, celebrating Santa Fe's 20th anniversary as a UNESCO Creative City in this domain, thereby reinforcing the city's cultural identity and heritage. The program targets arts practitioners from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, including visual art, film/video, literature, architecture, music composition, performing arts, culinary arts, design, new media, and interdisciplinary arts. The primary beneficiaries are artists who are residents of Santa Fe County, as well as the broader public of Santa Fe City and County through public engagement outcomes. The impact goal is to support projects that will enrich the cultural landscape and understanding of the city for both residents and visitors, fostering community involvement and accessibility to art. The grant prioritizes projects that creatively respond to the broad assertion "Art is the Solution." There is no specific focus area beyond this theme, allowing for wide-ranging artistic interpretations. Projects must include a public engagement component, ensuring accessibility and community involvement, which is a key focus. Additionally, as 2025 marks a significant anniversary for Santa Fe's UNESCO Creative City designation, there's a strong encouragement for applications from artists working and innovating in crafts and folk art traditions. Five grants of $10,000 each will be awarded. Expected outcomes include the creation of diverse art forms, public art installations, community workshops, performances, exhibits, publication projects, multimedia work, and collaborative partnerships. Measurable results will be tied to the completion of these projects and their public presentation by June 30, 2025, within Santa Fe City or County, demonstrating the program's success in fostering artistic creation and public interaction. The theory of change implicitly suggests that by funding projects that showcase art as a solution and engage the public, the program will enhance cultural appreciation, community cohesion, and the overall understanding and experience of Santa Fe.