artsCatalyst Grants
Purpose
artsCatalyst Grants foster interdisciplinary arts experiences in undergraduate courses. Activities can be virtual or in-person and could include (but are not limited to):
- Attending a performance or film screening
- Museum visits
- Workshop with a guest artist
- Walking tours with local experts
- Guest speakers who address professional development opportunities/career paths involving the arts
Priority is given to the following types of requests:
- Arts activities/experiences in non-arts departments
- Arts activities/experiences in introductory courses
- Arts activities/experiences exploring career pathways in the arts
Not sure if this grant is the best fit for your project? View our comparison guide for guidance.
Application Timeline
Applications closed for 2023-24 classes.
Summer 2024 and September Session Classes are not eligible for artsCatalyst Grants.
Sign up for our faculty/staff newsletter to receive updates about future artsCatalyst application cycles.
Eligibility
- Open to Stanford faculty and academic staff teaching undergraduate courses in any department. Limit one application per instructor per quarter.
- 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, heritage arts, and theater.
- 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).
- Class takes place during Autumn 2023, Winter 2024, or Spring 2024 and has a majority undergraduate enrollment.
- Requests are only reviewed for the upcoming quarter. Instructors applying for multiple quarters will need to submit separate applications.
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, especially international guest speakers (virtual and in-person) and off-campus travel. 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.
- Confirm minimum honorarium rates with your department/program. We encourage you to budget accordingly so your guest speaker(s) receives fair compensation for their participation in your class.
How to Apply
All application materials are submitted via Seed Funding. All responses are entered through the online form--file uploads are not required/accepted.
- Seed Funding automatically imports your name, SU email, and bio from Stanford Profiles.
- Name of the department/program Financial Administrator who will be processing your grant-related transactions
- Class title and number (e.g. "Introduction to Grant Writing" (ARTSINST 9999x))
- Class syllabus
- Activity proposal
- Brief activity budget
- Any additional funding sources you will be using for this activity
Award
- Awards range from $250-$1,000 per quarter per instructor.
- Instructors can request artsCatalyst funding for multiple courses in the same quarter as long as the total requested for the quarter is under $1,000.
- 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, and meals relating to off-campus activities.
- Funds cannot be used to pay for required class materials, course fees, or 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 Sabrina Wilensky to discuss next steps.
Contact:
Sabrina Wilensky (she/her)
Director of Program Operations and Project Management
Office of the Vice President for the Arts
swilensk@stanford.edu
Past Grant Recipients
artsCatalyst Grants 2022-23
During the 2022-23 academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded 58 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. Activities included field trips to Bay Area arts venues, guest speakers (in-person and virtual), and workshops with guest artists. The grants…
artsCatalyst Grants 2021-22
This past academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded 63 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. Activities included a mix of in-person, hybrid, and virtual experiences. 2021-22 artsCatalyst Grant Recipients Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution in 17th- and 18th-Century…
artsCatalyst Grants 2020-21
This past academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded 58 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. All of the activities took place in the virtual environment. 2020-21 artsCatalyst Grant Recipients An Artist’s Life: Diverse Voices and Changing Contexts…
artsCatalyst Grants 2019-20
This past academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded 33 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. Activities included field trips to Bay Area cultural organizations, workshops with visiting artists, and attending performances. 2019-20 artsCatalyst Grant Recipients Why is Climate Change…
artsCatalyst Grants 2018-19
This past academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded 27 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. Activities included field trips to Bay Area cultural organizations, workshops with visiting artists, and attending performances. 2018-19 artsCatalyst Grant Recipients Interpreting Art (ITALIC 92), Karla…
artsCatalyst Grants 2016-17
This past academic year, the Office of the Vice President for the Arts awarded over 20 artsCatalyst Grants to faculty members from across the University. These grants foster interdisciplinary arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. Activities included field trips to Bay Area cultural organizations, workshops with visiting artists, and attending performances. 2016-17 artsCatalyst Grant Recipients Media…
