Artist Open Studio Tour Grants in Rhode Island

The Artist Open Studio Tour (AOST) grant is administered by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), a state agency dedicated to enriching the lives of Rhode Islanders through access to the arts. Since 1967, RISCA has been charged with promoting public engagement in the arts and supporting the state's vibrant creative community. AOST grants are a part of RISCA’s mission to facilitate inclusive access to artistic resources, connect communities, and strengthen the infrastructure for artistic expression in Rhode Island. The AOST grant specifically supports the organization, marketing, and administration of artist-initiated open studio tours. These tours must feature multiple artists located in either a single building or multiple buildings within a defined geographic area. The primary objective of the program is to foster collaborative efforts among artists to open their studios to the public, encouraging community engagement and appreciation of local visual arts. Each tour must be publicly accessible and reflect a shared initiative among participating artists. Eligible applicants for the AOST grant must be individual artists who are legal U.S. residents, domiciled in Rhode Island for at least one year prior to application submission, and at least 18 years old. Applicants must use Rhode Island as their legal residence for official documentation such as taxes, voter registration, and identification. Projects must take place within Rhode Island, and artists may receive only one AOST grant per state fiscal year. Individuals currently receiving a General Operating Support for Artists grant, enrolled in a full-time arts degree program or high school, or affiliated with RISCA as a staff or council member (or immediate family) are ineligible. Applications that are delinquent in final reports from previous RISCA funding or are receiving duplicate support from another RISCA program will also be disqualified. Each AOST grant provides a fixed award amount of $750. These funds may be used to cover costs related to the organization, marketing, production, presentation, and accessibility of the open studio tour. This includes compensation for both the applicant and participating artists or administrators. The program prioritizes ADA compliance and does not permit use of funds for capital improvements, hospitality not included in the original budget, alcohol, debt payments, regranting, academic credits, religious events, or fundraising activities. Applicants must inform RISCA staff of any changes in how funds are used if different from the submitted budget. The application process is ongoing and considered on a rolling basis. Applications open in early July and remain open until early June of the following year or until funds are depleted. Because funding is issued per fiscal year, applicants must wait until the new application window opens if their event takes place in July or August. AOST applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility, and awards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. No partial grants are awarded; applicants either receive the full $750 or no funding. All marketing materials related to the event must include proper credit to RISCA. Applicants must submit a list of participating artists, a bio, resume, or CV of the lead applicant, and a letter of commitment from an additional artist, studio, or studio building. Optional supplementary materials may include artist resumes, marketing collateral from previous events, or samples of work. These documents must be submitted in accessible file formats such as JPG, PDF, Word, or Excel. Video or audio content must be linked to external platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo. For additional support, applicants can contact Mollie Flanagan, the Artist Programs Director, via email at mollie.flanagan@arts.ri.gov or by phone at (401) 222-3881.

Budget flexibility is allowed, but applicants must inform RISCA of any changes. Events must be ADA-compliant. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so early submission is recommended