​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Artists to Work Program​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Artists to Work grant program supports the creation and presentation of original, new or in-process artistic work by practicing Phoenix artists. Awarded artists will be required to complete a public presentation within the city of Phoenix boundaries that primarily benefits Phoenix residents.

Program guidelines have changed from past years, so please read carefully to determine eligibility and criteria.

Applicants will complete an application comprising narrative responses, a budget, and work samples. Applications will be reviewed first for eligibility by staff and then against evaluation criteria by other practicing artists. Each year, the program will accept applications from artists from specific disciplines. The 2026 Artists to Work cycle will accept applications from literary or performance artists who are currently generating original, new or in-process work.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

Applying is a one-step process. Applicants apply through the MARGO grants portal. The application will be open from August 21, 2025, through September 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona Time).

The application consists of Narrative Questions, Budget, and Work Samples. Download a Word Version of the Application and an Excel Version of the Budget Form.

Artists under the following areas are eligible to apply for an individual project. Applicants will select a Primary Discipline and then select a Subdiscipline. The selected Subdiscipline must reflect both the Project Proposal and Work Samples (e.g., if you select “Poetry” as a Subdiscipline, your Project Proposal and Work Samples must be poetry).

Literary Arts

Subdiscipline: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, playwriting, screenwriting

Performing Arts

Subdiscipline: Dance, multimedia performance, music, opera, puppetry, theatre, musical theatre

You are eligible for this grant if you meet these criteria:

• You are a City of Phoenix resident. You must provide evidence of Phoenix residency when applying. We do not accept PO Box addresses as proof of residency.  Per the NEA, you must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• You are at least 18 years or older by the application due date.
• You are a practicing literary or performance artist who is currently generating original, new or in-process.
• You are proposing a project that has literary or performance art as the primary discipline.
• You are proposing a project that will be completed by December 31, 2026.

You are not eligible for this grant if:

• You reside outside the Phoenix city limits.
• You reside outside the Phoenix city limits but have a post office box, temporary rehearsal space or a studio in Phoenix.
• You are applying for a project that’s directly related to a degree-granting program, thesis, or dissertation.
• You are an immediate family member of Arts and Culture staff or a currently serving Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission member.
• You are applying as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or on behalf of an artist team/collective, company, nonprofit, organization, fiscal sponsorship, or community group.
• Your project proposal overlaps with any other program that the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture General or Project Support is already funding.
• A recent Artists to Work grantee  (awarded in either fall 2023 or fall 2024)​.

Projects that are not eligible

• Projects whose main purpose is promotional
• Project is to fund ongoing operations of existing business
• Curation or documentation of existing work
• Projects that use AI-generated or augmented art (see AI Value Statement for more information and exceptions)

Eligible Use of Grant Funds

• Direct project expenses (including research costs and awardee/subcontractor artist fees)
• Supplies and materials
• Equipment or equipment rental
• Event space rental
• Insurance, licenses, permits
• Publicity/marketing
• Reasonable transportation as described in recommended proposal (all travel abide by NEA requirements)
• Documentation
• Technology (non-equipment)

Ineligible Use of Grant Funds

• Organizations
• Capital equipment
• Studio space or office space rental
• Costs of selling and marketing any products or services of the recipient
• Any division of local, state or federal government.
• Religious projects or projects within a larger religious or proselytizing event/organization
• Debt reduction
• Re-granting
• Lobbying expenses
• Expenses related to the construction of facilities
• Entertainment costs, including food, beverages, alcohol, staffing, etc.
• Fundraising projects
• Political projects
• Academic-related projects (e.g., theses, applied projects, etc.)
• Literary agents or editors
• Curation of other artists’ work that doesn’t heavily feature the applicant’s original work.
• AI-generated art is not considered original work (refer to our AI Value Statement)
   

Note: Review the NEA’s Cost Principles for more details on eligible and ineligible use of funds. 

Application and Support

August 21, 2025 - Application Opens

August 27, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. - Grant Info-Session (English): Eligibility and Application Process 

• Meeting Link (no registration required)
• Access Code: 2357 479 4287
• Meeting Password: 2026A2W

28 de agosto, 2025, a las 6:00 p.m. - Sesión informativa para la Subvención (español): Elegibilidad y proceso de solicitud

• Enlace para la reunión: (No se requiere registración)
• Código de acceso: 2346 762 3034
• Contraseña de reunión: Artistas

September 6, 2025 - Grant Writing Workshop (English y español)  Registration Opens Soon/ Registración abre pronto

September 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. - Application Closes

September 22-26, 2025 - Eligibility Review (conducted by Arts and Culture staff)

Panel Review and Notification

October 1-November 5, 2025 - Individual and Full Panel Review

November 10, 2025 - Award Notification

November 13, 2025 - Info-Session "You've Been Funded! What's Next?"

November 21, 2025 - Due: Grant Conditions, W9, and Affidavit of Lawful Presence

December 2025  - Grant Conditions Reviewed and Invoices Processed

January 1-December 31, 2026 - Award Term

Applications are assigned to a panel of up to five panelists with knowledge and expertise in the primary discipline under review. We ensure that all our panels are free of conflicts of interest.

We provide our panelists with online access to the applications about a month in advance of the panel meeting. At this stage, the panelists read the applications and review work samples, enter their preliminary comments, and assign initial scores. All applications must be evaluated according to the review criteria listed in the application guidelines. Panelists later meet as a group in a closed session to discuss highest-scored applications. Informed by the panel discussion, panelists may change their initial scores.

You can download a Word document with the Application Questions here so you can work offline and copy/paste into your final application in the grants portal, MARGO.

If you are using AI in any part of your application, you will need to answer a few additional questions included in the Word version. Only POAC staff will review responses to the AI questions; these will not be reviewed by panelists. 

Applicants will be recommended for funding by the panel to complete new in-progress or completed work between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. After they are recommended for funding, they will need to complete the following:

• Register as a City of Phoenix vendor or confirm previous registration. New vendors are required to complete a W9 and an Affidavit of Lawful Presence. Note: Per NEA guidelines single member LLC’s or sole proprietorships are not eligible to receive this grant award.
• Attend a “You’ve Been Funded! What’s Next” new grantee meeting facilitated by Arts and Culture grants staff.
• Sign a grants conditions form that agrees to the following:
  • Participate in a public presentation of completed grant-funded work within city of Phoenix boundaries by January 15, 2027, either:
  • Coordinated and sponsored by Phoenix Arts and Culture, or
  • Coordinated and sponsored by the awardee
• To use, both, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Phoenix Arts and Culture logos when promoting the public presentation of the grant-funded work.
• Per the NEA, review and agree to National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes, Regulations, and Executive Orders that Govern your Award. See full document here.
• Payments are made in two installments: 1. Upon submission of the grant conditions and completion of vendor registration and 2. Completion of the public benefit event and upon receipt of the final report

Grantees agree to complete a brief progress report in the fall of 2026, and final report by January 21, 2027, detailing how the grant award was used for the creation and presentation of new work. While this is not a reimbursement grant, by agreeing to the grant conditions, grantees will keep a log of purchases with details as it relates to use of grant funds. Grantees are required to keep documentation of their project expenses until January 21, 2030. We may ask the grantee to provide for that information at a later date, if needed or required through City of Federal government audits. ​​