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.

Undergraduate/co-term student duos/teams and registered student organizations are eligible to apply!

These grants are administered by the Office of the Vice President for the Arts. Spark! Grants are made possible by a generous gift from Leslie and George Hume. Maker Grants are made possible by a generous gift from the Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Fund. Creative Spaces Grants are made possible by support from The Stanford Fund.

Contact

Sabrina Wilensky
Manager of Grants and Programs
Office of the Vice President for the Arts
swilensk@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.

Applications Closed

Application Deadlines

Summer 2019 Projects

VPA Student Arts Grants are not available for Summer 2019 projects. As an alternative, check out some of the other campus opportunities on our Grants & Awards page.

2019-20 Events & Projects

Information will be available by August 2019.

FAQs

Project Eligibility

**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
Extracurricular (not related to academic requirements or capstone projects)
Collaborative (no solo projects)
Performed/exhibited on the Stanford campus
Features current undergraduate/co-term Stanford students from any major as lead artists, performers, and producers
Has a campus sponsor
Will be performed or exhibited in the next quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring)

All grants are awarded on a project basis.

Each project can only submit one application per cycle.
Each project team will only be considered for one project per quarter (based on when the event is taking place.)

Additional Info

Extracurricular Projects & Working With Departments

Extracurricular Projects

Student Arts Grants are intended for extracurricular projects that are being led by student groups or individuals outside of their academic requirements.

A project is not eligible for Student Arts Grant funding if any member of the project is counting their involvement towards the following academic activities:

Senior departmental capstones
- This includes individual capstone projects that have partnered with a student group for production support
Honors research/thesis
Master's research/thesis
Senior synthesis projects for which you are receiving academic credit
Projects relating to coursework (e.g. final projects for a seminar, workshop, or independent study), unless the student is enrolled in TAPS 140.

There are a number of campus funding sources that can help support academic projects, including:

Working With Departments

Student Arts Grants cannot be used to support projects/exhibitions that are considered part of a department's official season. Typically these events will include the department as one of the official sponsors and receive marketing support from the department.

If you are unsure as to whether your project qualifies for a Student Arts Grant, please contact Sabrina Wilensky with a short summary and a description of how the academic department(s) will be involved.

Collaboration

A collaborative project:

Must involve at least two current Stanford students in key project roles (no solo projects)
- Key project team members must be listed in the grant application
- Projects that involve recruiting additional project members (e.g. actors, dancers, visual artists, models, musicians) are required to have at least one other key team member identified at the time of application (e.g. co-producer, co-curator, music director, choreographer, art director, etc.)
Can be within the same discipline or inter/multidisciplinary

Examples of collaborative project structures:

Musical or theatrical performances featuring 2+ performers
A dance showcase
A group art show featuring multiple visual artists
A large fabrication/installation project that requires multiple skill sets (e.g. painting, structural or materials engineering, electronics, etc.)

Questions? Contact Sabrina Wilensky (swilensk@stanford.edu), Manager of Grants and Programs, Office of the Vice President for the Arts.

Project Sponsors

All applicants are required to have a project sponsor who can support the project. Your sponsor can be any of the following:

Registered Student Group
Community Center
VPA Organizations (IDA, Cantor, Anderson, Stanford Live)
Other Campus Department or Program (including faculty and graduate student mentors)

Residence Halls cannot act as project sponsors.

Sponsor Expectations:

Registered Student Groups (VSOs)
- Advising on specific skill/thematic requirements for the project
- Helping to facilitate an exhibition/performance venue
- Connecting the student to other campus groups/resources who can support this project
- Process all project-related financial transactions
- VSOs are expected to contribute some funding to the project (either from their 2800 account or annual ASSU allowances)
Community Centers, VPA Organizations, Other Departments/Programs
- Advising on specific skill/thematic requirements for the project
- Helping to facilitate an exhibition/performance venue
- Connecting the student to other campus groups/resources who can support this project
- Non-VSO sponsors are not required/obligated to provide any financial support for this project

Students: Make sure to discuss your project with your sponsor and obtain their support before submitting your application!

Sponsors: Questions about the role of the project sponsor can be sent to Sabrina Wilensky (swilensk@stanford.edu), Manager of Grants and Programs, Office of the Vice President for the Arts.

Zines and Publications

Projects Involving Multiple Student Groups

For projects with multiple collaborating groups, all of the groups must be eligible for funding. See below for examples of collaboration models.

It is strongly recommended that all of the groups involved draft a memo of understanding (MOU) outlining their respective roles and responsibilities during the project; this should be done prior to submitting your grant application. Contact Claudia Dorn for guidance.

Example #1: Three student groups collaborating on a dance showcase

The three groups would submit one application for the project. For this particular project they are only asking for Creative Spaces funds to cover the venue costs.
If the project receives funding (e.g. $6,000 Creative Spaces + $750 Spark!), the award would be equally credited amongst the three groups. This means that each group would have 1/3 of each grant award count towards their annual cap (in this scenario, $2,000 Creative Spaces + $250 Spark!)
If any of the three groups wanted to apply for funding for another project in a different quarter, they would be eligible to do so. However, the maximum amount each group could apply for would be $7,000 Creative Spaces and $1,250 Spark! (keeping in mind that full funding for any project is not guaranteed.)

Example #2: A single student group producing two plays in one quarter, one of which is a collaboration with another eligible student group.

The student group would only be considered for funding for one project. In this case, the collaborative project would take priority.
The funding cap pattern would follow a similar pattern as explained in Example #1.

These examples are common scenarios that occur and are not an exhaustive list. If you have any questions or concerns about funding caps or other grant policies, please contact Sabrina Wilensky prior to completing your application.

Festivals and Visiting Artists

Projects such as student-led festivals and events involving headlining visiting artists are not eligible for VPA Student Arts Grants.

Instead, consider applying for a co-sponsorship from the VPA. (Co-sponsorships fund activities that fall outside of our standard grant programs.)

Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Applications should be submitted at least 4-6 weeks in advance of the project/event to allow for sufficient review time.

If you are unsure which funding opportunity is the best fit for your project, please email Sabrina Wilensky with a short summary.

Types of Grants

Student Arts Grants use a common application for the following opportunities:

Spark!

For collaborative performing arts and film projects

Duos/Small teams: up to $500 per project
Registered student groups: up to $1,500 per academic year²

Maker

For visual art exhibitions and fashion showcases¹

Duos/Small teams: up to $500 per project
Registered student groups: up to $1,000 per academic year²

Creative Spaces

For on-campus venue usage costs and equipment rentals

Duos/Small teams: not eligible
Registered student groups: up to $9,000 per academic year²

¹ While the exhibition must feature multiple students the individual works do not need to be collaborative. Students involved in the exhibition are encouraged to purchase materials collectively whenever possible. Contact Sabrina Wilensky if you have any questions about your exhibition proposal.
² Academic year calculations are based on when the project takes place.

How to Apply

All of the Student Arts Grant opportunities use a single application.

Application Includes:

1. Project proposal (three questions)

2. List of all core team members (solo projects are not eligible)

3. Project budget (must use specified template)

All budgets must be submitted as a single page PDF using this template.

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.
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.
Review the list of items covered by Student Arts Grant funds.
Projects can 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.

4. Name of a campus sponsor (e.g. registered student group, community center, department/program)

5. 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.

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.

Questions about your work samples? Contact Sabrina Wilensky (swilensk@stanford.edu).

6. List of potential event venues

REMINDER:

Make sure to verify your project's eligibility before starting your application!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can graduate and/or non-Stanford students be involved with the project?

The Project Lead(s) must be enrolled as an undergraduate or co-term student at the time of the proposed exhibition/performance.

Graduate students (masters or doctoral): Yes—as long as the core project team and majority of the performers/artists exhibited are comprised of undergraduate or co-term students.

Non-Stanford students (including alumni): Yes, to a limited extent. All projects must feature current Stanford students as the lead artists/producers and core members of the project team. Stanford students must comprise the majority of the performers and technicians working on the project. (Grant funds cannot be used to pay outside performers or specialists.) Stanford alumni are welcome to participate in grant-funded projects as long as the majority of the project team and featured artists are current undergraduate and co-term students.

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 Projects and Grants Manager and the Associate Vice President for the Arts.

How many grants are awarded each cycle? How many Student Arts Grants can I receive in a year?

It depends. Grants are awarded in three cycles:

Fall: for Winter and Spring projects
Winter: for Spring projects
Spring: for Fall projects

Grant funds are budgeted evenly throughout each year throughout the three application cycles so that each application cycle has access to the same amount of total funding. The number of awards given out each cycle varies based on the number of applications received as well as the strength of the projects.

All grants are awarded on a project basis. Each project can only receive one Student Arts Grant during the academic year. Student organizations who submit multiple applications in a single quarter (including project collaborations with other groups) will only be considered for one grant for that particular quarter.

How can I find collaborators for my project?

Can Student Arts Grants fund my capstone or honors project?

Student Arts Grants are intended for extracurricular projects that are being led by student groups or individuals outside of their academic requirements.

A project is not eligible for Student Arts Grant funding if any member of the project is counting their involvement towards the following academic activities:

Senior departmental capstones
- This includes individual capstone projects that have partnered with a student group for production support
Honors research/thesis
Master's research/thesis
Senior synthesis projects for which you are receiving academic credit
Projects relating to coursework (e.g. final projects for a seminar, workshop, or independent study), unless the student is enrolled in TAPS 140.

There are a number of campus funding sources that can help support academic projects, including:

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.

What are the expectations for grantees?

Grant recipients will act as stewards of Student Arts Grant funds, which have been made possible by the generosity of donors committed to enhancing artistic opportunities on campus.
Grant recipients will be expected to participate in an orientation meeting, complete an Interim Report (4-6 weeks prior to event) and Event Plan (2-3 weeks before event), document their creative process, and present the completed project on the main Stanford campus.
Grant recipients will present their project on the main Stanford campus within one academic quarter of receiving their award. (The final timeline will be specified in the award letter.)
Grant recipients will complete a final report which includes questions to help your team reflect on the project experience. Your report will also include a breakdown of how your grant funds were spent (including back-up documentation.)
Grant funds will be disbursed as follows:
- For projects sponsored by VSOs: direct transfer into your ASSU account.
- For all other projects: Either as reimbursements or through direct purchases through the Office of the Vice President for the Arts (such as for campus services or online order.)
All projects must adhere to University policies, including the Fundamental Standard and Honor Code.

VPA Student Arts Grants

Opportunities for extracurricular arts projects on campus

About

Contact

Application Deadlines

Project Eligibility

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

Additional Info

Types of Grants

Student Arts Grants use a common application for the following opportunities:

How to Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Past Grantees

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