Documentation & Archiving Grant

A Blade of Grass (ABoG), a nonprofit organization supporting artists who engage with social change, administers the Field Funds program to financially support creative practitioners throughout the United States. This initiative aims to uplift the often invisible yet vital components of socially engaged art practices by distributing fifty grants of $500 each annually, totaling $25,000. Field Funds addresses core needs in collaborative artistic processes, including documentation, archiving, community gatherings, translation, and accessibility services. These grants empower artists to sustain their work, particularly the behind-the-scenes elements that are typically underfunded or unrecognized. The current cycle of Field Funds is focused on Documentation and Archiving. It specifically supports practitioners in enhancing their recordkeeping and preservation efforts, particularly for ephemeral and community-centered works. Eligible expenses include commissioning visual, audio, or written documentation, as well as image descriptions, captioning, and accessibility-related services. In terms of archiving, the grant supports digitizing analog materials, creating inventory systems, and maintaining digital archives via subscriptions or storage services. Importantly, this cycle does not support the creation of new work or the presentation and exhibition of documentation materials. Eligibility for the grant is restricted to individual artists or collaboratives with a documented history of socially engaged art. Applicants must be based in the United States and capable of receiving taxable income. Nonprofits and commercial businesses are not eligible. Additionally, projects must align with the program theme and demonstrate the use of creative strategies to foster justice, safety, kindness, and freedom. Applicants should show how their practices engage communities meaningfully and utilize skills beyond conventional artistic production, such as organizing, advocacy, and facilitation. Applications are reviewed for eligibility only; there is no qualitative judging process. Once verified, eligible entries are assigned a number and selected randomly using a number generator. This approach ensures equity in funding distribution and reflects the funder’s belief in the intrinsic value of every stage of the creative process. Around four to five grants are awarded per application cycle, and recipients are notified and paid within ten days of the application due date. Funds must be expended within six months of receipt. The application process is streamlined and straightforward. Applicants are not required to justify the worthiness of their project but instead should focus on how the $500 grant would specifically support documentation or archiving needs. Applications are submitted during specific open call periods, which recur bi-monthly throughout the year. The Documentation and Archiving cycle opens in July 2025. While there are no pre-application requirements or deadlines, applicants are encouraged to refer to the provided schedule for future cycles and plan accordingly. For questions or support, applicants may contact A Blade of Grass via email at info@abladeofgrass.org. The organization is located at 51-02 21st Street #4A, Suite 129, Long Island City, NY 11101. Additional resources, including FAQ and office hours, are available on the program website. This recurring open call model ensures that artists have multiple opportunities throughout the year to apply for support that enables sustainable, community-centered artistic practices.