WESTAF Funding Opportunities

If you are looking for information about using WESTAF's online grants management system to manage your grants, please visit the Technology page to learn more about GO:GrantsOnline™.

TourWest
TourWest is a competitive grant program that provides subsidies to arts and community organizations for the presentation of out-of-state touring performers and literary artists. Funds are available to organizations that sponsor performances within the 13-state WESTAF region. Projects must take place between September 1, 2011, and August 31, 2012. All projects must have one public performance and one educational outreach activity. TourWest standard performance grants are available in an amount of up to $2,500 or 50% of the artistic fees, whichever is less. Applicants may apply for up to two standard performance grants. More information regarding the grant guidelines and the application can be found online at westaf.cgweb.org. The annual TourWest grant application opens annually in mid-January and closes on the first day of April.

All TourWest grants must be matched on a one-to-one basis in cash by the presenting organization. Funds are available to organizations that sponsor performances or literary events within the 13-state WESTAF region. The WESTAF region includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. In order to receive TourWest funding, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to all of the following: high artistic quality, collaboration and block booking, presentation of programs to underserved and/or culturally diverse audiences, audience development, and community participation.

TourWest is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.



Visual Arts Exhibition Touring Program
The Visual Arts Exhibition Touring Program (VAT) is a competitive grant program for visual arts organizations to support tours of visual art exhibitions of important regional artists. Matching grants of up to $50,000 are available to visual arts organizations that originate exhibitions of notable artists from the WESTAF region. To qualify for funding, the exhibition must also tour outside of the originating state but within the WESTAF region. More information about the VAT opportunity and the online application can be found at amp.cgweb.org. The deadline for VAT funding is currently a rolling deadline.

Through this program, WESTAF seeks to expand the awareness of noteworthy visual artists in the region, especially artists who have significantly influenced the aesthetic of a state or a region. WESTAF is also interested in building the understanding of environments, issues, and ideas rooted in the West that have been explored by seasoned artists and/or groups of artists. Artists of very high quality who are relatively unknown are of special interest as are artists who have served as teachers and/or leaders within the arts field, and who have influenced other artists.

VAT-funded exhibitions must open at a venue in the 13-state WESTAF region and then tour to a minimum of two other venues within the region. The WESTAF region includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The touring venues must be located outside of the state of the exhibition's origination. In addition, WESTAF will provide limited assistance with the implementation of a technology component for each touring project that receives an award. Exhibitions supported with VAT grant awards must take place between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2013. The project is considered complete when the originating institution has opened the exhibition at the second touring venue. Opening dates for both venues must occur between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2013.

This Visual Arts Touring Grant is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.




For more information about WESTAF's funding opportunities, please contact WESTAF at (303) 629-1166 or by e-mail at staff@westaf.org.