The THRIVE Grants program, managed by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) in partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation, provides funding to support innovative, ambitious, and community-driven visual arts projects across the state of Oklahoma. With grants of up to $10,000, THRIVE aims to empower artist-led initiatives that explore new boundaries in public engagement and artistic presentation.
Eligible projects must be publicly accessible, occur entirely within Oklahoma, and conclude before the end of the funding period. A central focus on visual arts is required, and projects that fall primarily within other disciplines—such as music, dance, theater, or commercial/feature filmmaking—will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to think creatively, including exploring non-traditional exhibition experiences and forming new collaborations.
The lead applicant and most collaborators must be Oklahoma residents, and lead applicants cannot be enrolled in an MFA or BFA program during the award year. While previous awardees may reapply after one year, preference is given to new or significantly expanded projects. Collaborators may include students, but institutions and businesses—such as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and for-profit entities—are not eligible to apply.
The 2025 grant application opens April 1, with key applicant support events such as an informational webinar on May 6 and office hours on May 13. The application process includes various resources such as grant writing tips, a scoring matrix, a budget template, and sample applications to guide artists through the process.
Grants are not intended for general operating expenses or ongoing programming within an organization. Instead, they aim to fund unique, standalone artist-led projects that foster innovation and community impact. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin planning early and to contact OVAC for questions or guidance.
For more information, artists can reach out to OVAC Administrative and Artist Relations Manager, Ariana Weir-Temoshok, at Ariana@ovac-ok.org or by phone at (405) 879-2400, ext. 5.
