VPA Student Arts Grants

Opportunities for extracurricular arts projects on campus

About

Student Arts Grants enhance the rich and varied cultural landscape throughout campus by supporting the creation and presentation of arts projects by current Stanford students. These grants provide financial support for producing on-campus performances and exhibitions featuring Stanford students.

These grants are administered by the Office of the Vice President for the Arts. Grants are made possible by generous gifts from Leslie and George Hume, the Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Fund, and The Stanford Fund.

Contact

Erina Alejo
Program Associate
Office of the Vice President for the Arts
ealejo@stanford.edu

If you need a disability-related accommodation and/or need to receive any program information/application in alternate format, please contact the Diversity & Access Office at, at phone: (650) 725-0326 or email: disability.access@stanford.edu.

Students: Apply now for the new COVID-19 Creative Community Response Grant!

FAQs

Student Arts Grant Project Eligibility & Policies

**Projects must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:**

Music, dance, theater, spoken word, performance art, film, visual art, fashion/textiles, digital media, and interactive art
- For festivals and other special events, there must be a direct connection to the arts (i.e. performances/exhibitions by campus arts groups).
- Publications must prominently feature student visual art and/or creative writing.
- Parties of any kind and other predominantly social events are not eligible.
Extracurricular (not related to academic requirements or capstone projects)
Collaborative (no solo projects)
Performed/exhibited on the Stanford campus by the end of the current academic year
Event is organized and produced by current undergraduate/co-term Stanford students
- Projects/events featuring non-Stanford students as the lead artists/performers are only eligible for Special Opportunity Grant funding
Has a campus sponsor
Appropriate use of grant funds.

How Are Grants Awarded?

All grants are awarded on a project basis.
Projects should apply at least 4-6 weeks before their exhibition opens/performances begin.
Each project can only submit one application per year.
For VSOs:
- VSOs may not receive more than $5,000 in Student Arts Grant funding in a single academic year.
- Each VSO will only be considered for one application per review cycle.

Grant Program Policies

Project Sponsor Guidelines

How to Apply

All Student Arts Grant opportunities use a single application which includes:

List of all core team members
- Solo projects are not eligible
- Policies regarding eligible team member & resources for finding collaborators
Campus sponsor verification
- VSO Sponsored Projects: Include a link to CardinalSync event registration
- Community Center Sponsored Projects: Letter of Support from your sponsor
Project summary (50 words or less)
Project proposal (3 Questions)
1. Why have you chosen this project? (150 words or less)
2. What are the artistic goals? (150 words or less)
3. How will you make this project happen? (300 words or less)
List of potential event venues
Project timeline
Project budget
- All budgets must be submitted as a single page PDF using this template.
Work samples
- Make sure to carefully review the guidelines to ensure that your application includes the required items.

Applications Closed

Academic Year 2019-20 Deadlines

~~Cycle A: September 15, 2019 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
~~Cycle B: October 6, 2019 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
~~Cycle C: November 3, 2019 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
~~Cycle D: January 12, 2020 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
~~Cycle E: February 2, 2020 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
~~Cycle F: March 1, 2020 @ 11:59 PM (Pacific)~~
Cycle G: Cancelled
- In lieu of Cycle G students are encouraged to apply for the new COVID-19 Creative Community Response Grant

Review Process

After each deadline, the Grants Team will review submissions to verify project eligibility and completeness.
- Your team may be requested to submit additional/revised materials after the deadline. The Grants Team may also contact your project sponsor for additional information.
Funding decisions are typically finalized within 2-3 weeks after each deadline. There are four possible outcomes:
- Award: Your project receives full or partial funding.
- Resubmit: Your application may require additional pre-approvals before funding can be awarded. Your team will receive instructions on next steps and will be able to resubmit your materials at a later date.
- Declined: Your project has not been awarded funding.
- Ineligible: Your project does not meet the eligibility criteria for a VPA Student Arts Grant

Tips for Preparing Your Project Budget

How to create your project budget:

Provide a budget for your entire project--not just the portion relating to your grant request. We want to see how the grant will fit in with your overall project plan.
- Think about all of the materials it will take to realize your project. Do some internet research to estimate costs.
- Review the list of eligible grant items
Explore using free campus equipment programs (such as the Equipment Lending Library, Lathrop Media Lab, etc.) before deciding that you need to rent equipment from an external vendor.
Projects sponsored by VSOs: VSOs are expected to contribute funding to the project (either from their 2800 account, annual ASSU allowances, or TSF). VSOs should expect to contribute at least 30-50% of the total project cost.
- Other campus sponsors are not required/obligated to provide any financial support for this project.
Projects should utilize multiple campus funding sources.
- If you are planning to apply (or have confirmed) funding from other sources (such as ASSU, TSF, community centers, departments, etc.), please include that information in the budget template.
- Visit our Grants & Awards page for additional campus resources for funding creative projects.
Check your math! If your project costs in Part 1 are greater than your project funding in Part 2, consider cutting costs or applying for additional funds.
Check your formatting! Make sure your budget exports as a single-page PDF using the specified template.

How to Select Work Samples

Work sample requirements vary by project type. Make sure to carefully review the guidelines to ensure that your application includes the required items. Your application will be considered incomplete if it is missing the required work sample items!

Select work samples that reflect both your accomplishments as an artist as well as the type of project you are proposing. Include original works by you and/or members of your project team that have been completed during your time at Stanford.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work on my project over school breaks (e.g. Winter, Spring, or Summer Breaks)?

Who reviews the grant applications? Who makes the funding decisions?

All grant applications are reviewed by a committee comprising of staff from the Office of the Vice President for the Arts. The committee evaluates each application based on the clarity of the project proposal, contribution to the campus community, use of campus resources, budget planning, and ability for the project to succeed. After the committee completes their evaluations, the scores and comments are totaled. The final funding decision is approved by the Manager of Grants and Programs and the Associate Vice President for the Arts.

How many grants are awarded each cycle?

Does receiving a Student Arts Grant guarantee access to rehearsal, performance/exhibition, and/or storage space?

No. Each project is responsible for arranging and booking their own venues (including storage space) directly with the space manager. Reservation policies and access vary greatly amongst venues on-campus. The Arts Spaces Database lists reservation procedures for a number of traditional and non-traditional venues. If you are having trouble identifying or booking space, contact the Office of Student Productions.

How are Student Arts Grants paid?

I need help with finding a venue for my project. Who can I contact?

The Office of Student Productions (OSP) supports extracurricular student projects across the arts and can assist you with navigating the campus space reservation ecosystem. Contact Claudia Dorn for more information.

The Arts Spaces Database is a great starting point for identifying campus spaces. If you are having trouble identifying or booking space, contact Claudia Dorn for more information.

OSP has partnered with ASSU to set up the Equipment Lending Library. The Lending Library's collection includes speakers and stands, microphones, mixers, amps and cables, as well as photo and video equipment. All students are eligible to borrow equipment for up to five days.

VPA Student Arts Grants

Opportunities for extracurricular arts projects on campus

About

Contact

Students: Apply now for the new COVID-19 Creative Community Response Grant!

Student Arts Grant Project Eligibility & Policies

**Projects must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:**

How Are Grants Awarded?

How to Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Past Grant Recipients

Student Arts Grants: A Year in Photos 2018-19

Student Arts Grants: A Year in Photos 2017-18

Student Arts Grants: A Year in Photos 2016-17

Student Arts Grants: A Year in Photos 2015-16

Spark! Grants: A Year in Photos 2014-15