the creation & development fund

The Creation & Development Fund supports the creation, development and mobility of new artistic work that advances racial and cultural justice and results in live experiential exchange between artists and community.

The fund provides a framework for relationships to develop, over time, among diverse artists, arts organizations, and communities. Through the investment of commissioning funds from arts organizations and NPN direct subsidies, each project is eligible for multi-level support.

Phase 1:

Relationships are central to the Creation Fund, which supports new work in early stages.

• Artists apply for the Creation Fund with a team consisting of at least two arts organizations (co-commissioners) led by a NPN National Partner.
• Each commissioner contributes a $2,000–$3,000 cash match and agrees to present the work once it has been created.
• NPN matches these funds so that every Creation Fund artist receives a minimum of $14,000 of project funding.

The structure of the Creation Fund increases organizations’ capacities to commission work, deepens relationships, and is a tool for leveraging other local and national funding.

Phase 2:

Twice a year, NPN invites artists who have received Creation Fund support to apply for additional development support. Development Funds are artist-driven:

1. Artists may apply for up to $10,000 for team-based projects with a commissioner (or other collaborator) of their choosing. Or;
2. Artists may apply for individual artist support, up to $5,000.

Development Funds can be used for a variety of needs when developing a work for public engagement.

Phase 3:

Once a work is developed, co-commissioners are required to support artists through a public engagement of the new work, focused on exchange between artists and communities.

NPN offers access to (but does not guarantee) Artist Engagement Funds for NPN National Partners to support artist fees for Phase III.