Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Open-application Emergency Grants of $500–3,000 on a monthly cycle for experimental artists, including music — about 240 made in 2025. One of the few genuinely fast, genuinely open US grant doors.
- Best for
- Experimental-leaning work with sudden, specific costs. U.S.-based experimental musicians or sound artists with a confirmed performance less than ten weeks away and an unexpected, project-critical expense.
- Skip if
- Your work reads as commercial pop — the remit is experimental. You need album recording, CD production, music-video funding, general living assistance, support for a project without a confirmed public presentation, or do not make experimental music; the genre is a requirement.
- First move
- Apply eight to ten weeks before the event with the venue confirmation, exact dates, work samples, project budget and a clear explanation of what makes the work experimental. Check the eligibility definition of 'experimental' against your work honestly.
- Watch out
- FCA funds only about 15–20 of roughly 100 monthly Emergency Grant applications. Projects outside its experimental focus are frequently declined, applications cannot be submitted more than ten weeks early, and its $45,000 artist awards cannot be applied for directly.
- Reach
- Niche
- When
- Worth it once you have releases out.
- Based in
- United States