artsCatalyst Grant

2025-26 Cohort

artsCatalyst Course Enhancement Grants

Open to Faculty & Teaching Staff

Purpose

artsCatalyst Grants foster interdisciplinary arts experiences in undergraduate courses. Priority will be given to pedagogically well-integrated arts experiences in interdisciplinary contexts particularly in courses taught in non-arts departments. Applicants can propose expenses such as (but not limited to):

materials for course-based creative projects, workshops, etc.
tickets and transportation for a performance, film screening or museum
honoraria for a virtual or in-person workshop with a guest artist

In 2026-27, we are collaborating with the Doerr School to provide additional funding for courses in any department with activities that explore diverse understandings of and approaches to sustainability through art and creative practice. Examples could include assignments that invite students to create research-based performances, music or poetry, and/or other interactive or immersive art installations that translate, distill, or reimagine possibilities for living in a sustainable world.

Eligibility

Open to Stanford faculty and academic staff teaching undergraduate courses in any department.
Activities or guest speakers must be directly related to the arts
- Disciplines and modalities include (but aren't limited to): visual art practices, creative writing, dance, design, digital media, film/tv, music, theater, and traditional craft
- All in-person activities must take place within the Bay Area or at a Stanford off-campus site within the United States (e.g. SiNY, SiW, Hopkins).
The proposed course must take place during Autumn 2026, Winter 2027, or Spring 2027 and have a majority undergraduate enrollment
- Limit one application per instructor per quarter. Requests are only reviewed for the upcoming quarter. Instructors applying for multiple quarters will need to submit separate applications.

How to Apply

All application materials are submitted via Seed Funding, which automatically imports your name, SU email, and bio from Stanford Profile. Additionally, the Seed Funding application will request the following information:

Name of the department/program Financial Administrator who will be processing your grant-related transactions
Course title and number (e.g. ARTSINST XXX: Screenwriting for Scientists)
Course syllabus
Activity proposal
Brief activity budget
Any additional funding sources you will be using for this activity

Application Timeline

Fall 2026 classes

Application Opens: August 17,2026
Application Deadline: September 11, 2026 @ 11:59pm (Pacific)
Recipients Notified: September 18, 2026

Winter 2027 classes

Application Opens: October 12, 2026
Application Deadline: November 6, 2026 @ 11:59pm (Pacific)
Recipients Notified: November 20, 2026

Spring 2027 classes

Application Opens: January 25, 2027
Application Deadline: February 19, 2027 @ 11:59pm (Pacific)
Recipients Notified: March 5, 2027

Summer 2027 and September Session Classes are not eligible for artsCatalyst Grants.

Award

Awards range from $250-$1,000 per quarter per instructor
- Instructors teaching in teams cannot pool funds for the same course/application.
Funding (full or partial) is not guaranteed.
Funds can be used for any of the following:
- speaker honorarium
- speaker travel/lodging
- transportation costs
- admission/tickets
- supplementary workshop materials
Funds cannot be used to pay for:
- required class materials
- course fees
- meals
- to pay Stanford affiliates (faculty, staff, students, postdocs).

Expectations for Grant Recipients

Grant recipients are expected to work with their department/program financial administrator to process all logistics and transactions relating to the proposed activity, and to ensure that all transactions and activities adhere to University policies.
Grant recipients may receive partial grants. In these situations the grant recipient should work with their department/program to find additional funds for the proposed activity.
Upon completion of the activity, grant recipients will submit a short final report. Grant recipients are encouraged to include photos (with photographer credit) from the activity as part of their report.
If the project/activity is no longer taking place, please notify Heidi Lubin to discuss next steps.

Tips for Activity Planning

We encourage instructors to review the following campus calendars to ensure that all students in your class are able to fully participate in artsCatalyst-funded activities:
- OSE Planning Calendar (major campus events and traditions)
- ORSL Religious Calendar
Whenever possible, avoid scheduling activities and trips during the End-Quarter Period. artsCatalyst activities scheduled during this time may receive lower priority for funding.
Certain types of activities require additional lead time, please make sure to check with your department/program administrator early in the planning process (even before you apply for an artsCatalyst Grant) to review University policies especially regarding invited artists/guest speakers.