2026 Craft Research Fund Grant

The Craft Research Fund Grant is administered by the Center for Craft, a nonprofit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina. Established in 2005, this fund is the organization's longest-running grant program and has awarded over $1.9 million to 255 projects across 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Center for Craft is dedicated to supporting the understanding and advancement of craft in the United States through research, scholarship, and community engagement. Its Craft Research Fund is designed to deepen and broaden the field by supporting innovative and interdisciplinary research into craft theory, history, and contemporary practice. The 2026 Craft Research Fund Grant supports projects that contribute fresh perspectives and new knowledge about craft in the United States. The fund explicitly encourages research that investigates neglected or underrepresented issues in craft history and criticism. It also supports cross-disciplinary and innovative approaches that may involve intersections between handmade and digital production or global perspectives on American craft. Awards range from $5,000 to $15,000 and are distributed over an 18-month grant period starting January 1, 2026, and ending August 30, 2027. Proposals must be centered on research rather than the creation or exhibition of artwork, and funding cannot be used to support completed research or projects already underway. The majority of grant funds—at least 85%—must be used for expenses directly related to conducting research. These include travel and living expenses, archival access, conference attendance, stipends for interviewees or subcontractors, image rights, and other related costs. Up to 15% of funds may be allocated to research dissemination activities such as exhibition production, digital database development, and publication printing. Capital equipment purchases like laptops and recorders are not eligible expenses. For organizations applying, overhead and staffing costs are capped at 15% of the total request. Individuals seeking stipends must include a justification in their budget narrative. All collaborators and community participants involved in research must be financially compensated. Eligibility is open to a wide range of applicants including academic and independent researchers, artist-researchers, curators, institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and eligible to receive taxable income in the United States. Employees, board members, consultants, and immediate family members of Center for Craft are ineligible. Additionally, applicants with outstanding or incomplete Center for Craft grants or fellowships are not allowed to apply. Only one award per person or institution may be received per year. Collaborative applications are permitted, but one fiduciary agent must be designated for tax and reporting purposes. The Center particularly encourages applications from historically underrepresented populations. Applications open June 20, 2025, and the submission deadline is October 17, 2025, via the SlideRoom platform. An informational session will be held on August 6, 2025, from 5:00–6:00 pm ET. Final award notifications are expected by December 2025. Evaluation is conducted by an external review panel comprising recognized craft scholars and curators. Proposals are judged on alignment with program goals, potential impact, and feasibility. Priority is given to projects addressing underrepresentation in the field. Recipients will receive 70% of the funding upon submission of a signed agreement and W9 form. The remaining 30% will be distributed upon completion of the final report, which must include a budget summary, images, audience metrics, and any resulting publications or research outputs. Any failure to fulfill reporting requirements may result in forfeiture of funding and alumni benefits. Applicants may direct questions to Mellanee Goodman, Program Manager–Research & Ideas, at mgoodman@centerforcraft.org or (828) 785-1357 x103.

Applicants are encouraged to attend the information session to better understand requirements and best practices.